French Authorities Investigate Reports of Needle Attacks During Annual Music Festival
French police have detained 12 suspects after 145 people across the country reported being pricked with needles during France’s annual Fête de la Musique, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The popular street music festival drew millions of participants on Saturday evening, with unprecedented crowds reported in Paris. Authorities are now investigating multiple reports of people—mostly women—claiming they were pricked with syringes during the celebrations.
The French Interior Ministry stated that toxicological tests are being conducted on several individuals who were taken to hospital after reporting symptoms. So far, officials have not confirmed whether any substances were injected or if the incidents involved drugs sometimes associated with so-called “needle spiking.”
Among the reported cases, 13 occurred in Paris, while at least 12 young women between the ages of 14 and 20 were hospitalised nationwide, according to various reports.
Social media posts ahead of the festival had raised concerns about potential targeting of women. Some online accounts had circulated warnings about such threats, prompting influencers and safety advocates to urge caution. French authorities are now reviewing the online activity as part of the ongoing investigation.
In the southwestern city of Angoulême, four individuals were detained in connection with approximately 50 reported needle incidents, according to a police source. Overall, 370 people were arrested during the festival for various offenses, including nearly 90 in Paris.
Officials also reported that 14 festival participants sustained serious injuries during the night’s events, including a 17-year-old who was hospitalised with abdominal wounds. In addition, 13 law enforcement officers were injured.
Despite the concerning reports, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez said that no large-scale security threat was identified, describing the incidents as serious but isolated.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding these reports, and public safety measures are expected to be reviewed ahead of future public events.
