Latest news with #Angouleme
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Twelve people are arrested after 145 people report being pricked by SYRINGES across international music festival
Twelve suspects have been detained after 145 people were 'pricked with syringes' at an international music festival. French police opened an investigation following reports the Fete de la Musique was infiltrated by attackers yesterday evening. Before the party in Paris, which authorities reported as having 'unprecedented crowds' posts had social media had called for women to be targeted. The interior ministry confirmed today 145 people had reported being stabbed with needles after millions had taken to the streets to celebrate. Paris police reported 13 cases in the capital. Officials did not say whether these were cases of so-called needle spiking with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB, used by attackers to render victims confused or unconscious and vulnerable to sexual assault. 'Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,' the ministry said. In Paris, investigations were opened after three people including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, reported being stabbed in separate incidents across Paris, prosecutors said. All three reported feeling unwell. Across France, 12 suspects have been arrested. Among them were four people in the southwestern city of Angouleme suspected of having targeted around 50 victims, a police source said. Apart from those suspects, more than 370 people were detained during the festival on various charges, including nearly 90 people in Paris. Fourteen participants in the festivities were seriously injured, including a 17-year-old hospitalised after being found sitting on the street with stab wounds to the lower abdomen. Thirteen members of law enforcement were also injured. The prefect of the Paris police, Laurent Nunez, said that 'no major incident has been reported'. Organisers at the Fete de la Musique have been contacted for comment. Footage circulating on social media also shows attendees in Paris partaking in aggressive behaviour on the streets amid the festivities. L'auteur du coup de pied dans le visage de cette femme doit être identifié et retrouvé @PoliceNationale @BrunoRetailleau @Gendarmerie #FetedelaMusique — Antho Ⓜ️ (@MAnthoParis) June 21, 2025 In one particularly shocking video, a man dressed in a blue T-shirt strikes a kick at a woman's head before pulling another male to the ground. The festival is an annual music celebration that takes place on June 21. On Music Day - as it is known in English - citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. The occasion is now celebrated in 120 countries around the world. Organiser Emmanuel Sémo said: 'Over the past three years, this type of incident has unfortunately been on the rise in major cities, particularly in Paris, often amplified by viral TikTok challenges. 'However, at our event, we take these risks very seriously and have implemented heightened vigilance measures to ensure everyone's safety. 'Ahead of the EF FESTIVAL or VERSO FESTIVAL, we issued preventive messages across our social media channels, sent information by email to attendees, and displayed dedicated signage on site. 'Security checks were reinforced at the entrances, and patrols were increased throughout the venue to detect and prevent any suspicious behaviour. 'This year, we had two suspected cases out of over 17,000 attendees. After investigation by emergency services, both were proven to be false alarms. While this represents an extremely low incident rate, safety remains an absolute priority for us. We also note that no intervention from law enforcement was required during the event. 'The atmosphere remained positive, the audience was respectful and well-filtered at entry points; We're proud of the secure and welcoming environment we created.'
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Wave of syringe attacks mar France's street music festival
France's President Emmanuel Macron on stage during the annual 'fete de la musique' music festival in the courtyard of the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla, Pool) PARIS, France — French police have detained twelve suspects after 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the country's annual street music festival, officials said Sunday. Millions of people took to the streets across France on Saturday evening for the Fete de la Musique, with authorities reporting 'unprecedented crowds' in Paris. Before the party, posts on social media had called for women to be targeted during the festivities. The interior ministry said 145 victims across the country had reported being stabbed with needles. Paris police reported 13 cases in the capital. Officials did not say if these were cases of so-called needle spiking with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB, used by attackers to render victims confused or inconscious and vulnerable to sexual assault. 'Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,' the ministry said. In Paris, investigations were opened after three people including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, reported being stabbed in separate incidents across Paris, prosecutors said. All three reported feeling unwell. Across France, 12 suspects have been arrested, the interior ministry said. Among them were four people in the southwestern city of Angouleme suspected of having targeted around 50 victims, said a police source. Apart from those suspects, more than 370 people were detained during the festival on various charges, including nearly 90 people in Paris. Fourteen participants in the festivities were seriously injured, including a 17-year-old hospitalised after being found sitting on the street with stab wounds to the lower abdomen. Thirteen members of law enforcement were also injured. The prefect of the Paris police, Laurent Nunez, said that 'no major incident has been reported'.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scotland call up player from second tier in France
Australia-born number eight Alex Masibaka, who plays for Angouleme in the second tier of French rugby, has received a shock call-up to Scotland's Six Nations squad. The unheralded forward replaces Josh Bayliss, who is expected to miss the tournament after being added to the growing list of unavailable players when he was injured playing for Bath on Sunday. The 23-year-old - with a mother from Paisley and a father from Fiji - was born in Perth and played briefly for Western Force before being signed by French club Montpellier in 2022. The Top 14 side loaned him the following campaign to Pro D2 side Angouleme, where he has remained this season. Masibaka, who is 6ft 1in and 18st, has scored 12 tries in 30 games for the club in south-west France, where he plays with former England winger Jonny May. Scotland's management have been tracking him since 2021 and want a closer look at his power and ball-carrying game. Their interest in Masibaka grew with the injury to Bayliss, who was so impressive in the autumn Tests. Head coach Gregor Townsend has Jack Dempsey and Jack Mann as his number eights in the squad but was limited in his other options when looking for a replacement for Bayliss. Saracens' Burke in Scotland's Six Nations squad Scotland 'have to cope with injuries' - Townsend Scottish Rugby - hopes and dreams for 2025 Magnus Bradbury is serving a suspension and the impressive Ben Muncaster is injured, while the other eligible players in that position are raw youngsters. Bayliss' withdrawal means Townsend has now lost for the entire tournament four of the original squad he named on 15 January - Sione Tuipulotu, Dylan Richardson, Scott Cummings and now Bayliss. Before he named that squad he was already without Kyle Steyn, Adam Hastings, Max Williamson, Andy Onyeama-Christie and Muncaster. The majority of those nine players would either be certainties for the starting XV or likely to be in the matchday squad. There is also a concern over Jonny Gray, who has only played three games since the end of October and none since the middle of December. The lock was expected to make his comeback on Saturday against Lyon but Bordeaux deemed him unfit to play. He may recover in time to face Italy on Saturday, but there has to be a concern about his sharpness for the intensity of the Six Nations after being out for so long. Townsend is likely to draft in cover at second row in what is an increasingly challenging preamble to his eighth Six Nations as coach. Scottish Rugby Union
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scotland call up player from second tier in France
Australia-born number eight Alex Masibaka, who plays for Angouleme in the second tier of French rugby, has received a shock call-up to Scotland's Six Nations unheralded forward replaces Josh Bayliss, who is expected to miss the tournament after being added to the growing list of unavailable players when he was injured playing for Bath on 23-year-old - with a mother from Paisley and a father from Fiji - was born in Perth and played briefly for Western Force before being signed by Montpellier in Pro 14 club loaned him the following campaign to French Pro D2 side Angouleme, where he has remained this season. Masibaka, who is 6ft 1in and 18st, has scored 12 tries in 30 games for the club in south-west management have been tracking him since 2021 and want a closer look at his power and ball-carrying interest in Masibaka grew with the injury to Bayliss, who was so impressive in the autumn Tests. Head coach Gregor Townsend has Jack Dempsey and Jack Mann as his number eights in the squad but was limited in his other options when looking for a replacement for Bayliss. Magnus Bradbury is serving a suspension, the impressive Ben Muncaster is injured while the other eligible players in that position are raw withdrawal means Townsend has now lost for the entire tournament four of the original squad he named on 15 January - Sione Tuipulotu, Dylan Richardson, Scott Cummings and now Bayliss. Before he named that squad he was already without Kyle Steyn, Adam Hastings, Max Williamson, Andy Christie and Muncaster. The majority of those nine players would be either certainties for the starting XV or likely to be in the matchday is also a concern over Jonny Gray, who has only played three games since the end of October and none since the middle of lock was expected to make his comeback on Saturday against Lyon but Bordeaux deemed him unfit to play. He may recover in time to face Italy on Saturday, but there has to be a concern about his sharpness for the intensity of the Six Nations after being out for so is likely to draft in cover at second row in what is an increasingly challenging preamble to his eighth Six Nations as coach.
