Latest news with #syringeAttack
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
145 people at France music festival report being pricked with syringes after online calls to target women
Paris — French police have detained 12 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. Revelers enjoy the 43rd "Fete de la Musique" national music festival, which took place throughout France on June 21, 2025, at the Carillon in Paris. AUGUSTIN PASQUINI/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty 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 unconscious and vulnerable to sexual assault. There was a spate of such attacks in the U.K. and a number of other European nations about three years ago. "Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests," the French interior 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, 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 who was hospitalized 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."
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Wave of syringe attacks hits France's street music festival, over 140 victims reported
PARIS, June 23 — 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 south-western 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'. — AFP
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- The Guardian
Arrests in France after scores report being attacked with syringes at street music festival
French police have detained 12 suspects after 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the country's annual street music festival, officials said on Sunday. Millions of people took to the streets across France on Saturday evening for the Fête 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 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, the interior ministry said. Among them were four people in the south-western city of Angoulême suspected of having targeted about 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 Nuñez, said that 'no major incident has been reported'.
Daily Mail
18 hours 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.'
South China Morning Post
20 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
12 arrested as wave of syringe attacks mars France street music festival
French police have detained 12 suspects after 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the country's annual street music festival, officials said on Sunday. Advertisement 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 – a 24-hour music marathon that is part of the Year of France in China celebration – 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 unconscious and vulnerable to sexual assault. Advertisement 'Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,' the ministry said.
