Over 145 women and teenage girls were jabbed with syringes by strangers at France’s biggest street music festival — and police have already arrested 14 suspects.

Story Snapshot

• France’s Interior Ministry confirmed 145 people reported syringe attacks at the annual Fête de la Musique festival, with most victims being women and girls as young as 14.
• At least 14 suspects were arrested nationwide, including four in the city of Angoulême linked to roughly 50 victims.
• Social media posts circulated before the event calling for women to be targeted, raising fears of a coordinated attack.
• At least one woman in Paris reported being jabbed before being sexually assaulted; multiple victims were hospitalized with symptoms like dizziness and loss of consciousness.

Hundreds of Women Targeted Across France

France’s Interior Ministry confirmed that 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the Fête de la Musique on June 21. The festival draws millions of people to street events in cities across the country. Most of the victims were women. Thirteen attacks were reported in Paris alone. Victims said they were jabbed in the arm or back while standing in crowds. Several reported symptoms including hot flashes, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.

In the northeastern city of Metz, the first call came in around 9:15 p.m. local time. Mayor François Grosdidier confirmed that 17 young women between the ages of 14 and 20 were targeted. Police used video footage to track down a suspect, who was later identified by one of the victims and handed over to national authorities. It remains unclear whether the suspect acted alone.

Arrests Made, but Key Questions Remain

Police arrested at least 14 suspects in connection with the syringe attacks. Four were arrested in Angoulême and linked to roughly 50 possible victims. Two more were detained in Metz. One suspect had a syringe on him; a victim identified the other as her attacker. French authorities said toxicology tests are underway, but have not yet confirmed whether the syringes contained any drug or harmful substance.

In Paris’s 9th district, a woman reported being pricked with a syringe before being raped. A separate man was briefly detained in Paris after being spotted with syringes attached to his belt, though he fled before police could fully detain him. The investigation is ongoing, and French police are now warning the public to stay alert at future events and report symptoms right away.

Social Media Calls Preceded the Attacks

Before the festival, posts on social media called for women to be attacked during the event. City officials, including Mayor Grosdidier, warned that these calls were spreading online and sparking fears of a planned, coordinated attack. French police have not yet confirmed whether the attacks were fully coordinated or who was behind the social media posts. The investigation into those posts is ongoing.

This is not the first time France has seen syringe panic at the Fête de la Musique. In 2022, over 1,000 complaints were filed after similar reports at festivals and clubs. At that time, toxicology tests came back negative and officials called it a “psychotic phenomenon.” This year, however, authorities are treating the reports more seriously — making arrests, mobilizing medical teams, and launching a formal investigation. Whether drugs were actually injected may not be known until full toxicology results are released. What is clear is that women were targeted, suspects were caught, and the threat was real enough for police to act fast.

Sources:

humanevents.com, news.abplive.com, abcnews.com, nbcnews.com, foxnews.com, fox10phoenix.com, san.com, lemonde.fr