French police have arrested 12 suspects following reports from 145 individuals who claimed to have been pricked with syringes during the country's annual street music festival, officials announced on Sunday.
On Saturday evening, millions gathered in cities across France for the Fête de la Musique, with authorities noting "unprecedented crowds" in Paris. Prior to the event, social media posts had urged that women be targeted during the celebrations. The interior ministry confirmed that 145 victims nationwide reported being stabbed with needles, including 13 cases in the capital.
Officials did not confirm whether these incidents involved needle spiking with date-rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB, which attackers use to incapacitate victims and make them vulnerable to sexual assault. "Some victims were taken to the hospital for toxicology tests," the ministry stated.
In Paris, investigations have been launched following reports of three individuals, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, being stabbed in separate incidents throughout the city, according to prosecutors. All three victims reported feeling unwell.
Nationwide, the interior ministry announced that 12 suspects have been arrested, including four individuals in the southwestern city of Angouleme, who are believed to have targeted approximately 50 victims, according to a police source.
Besides the suspects, over 370 individuals were detained during the festival on different charges, with almost 90 of them in Paris.
Fourteen festival-goers were seriously hurt, including a 17-year-old who was hospitalized after being discovered on the street with stab wounds to the lower abdomen.
Thirteen police officers were also injured.
The prefect of the Paris police, Laurent Nunez, stated that "no major incident has been reported."
