French authorities have arrested 12 suspects following reports that 145 people were pricked with syringes during the country’s annual Fête de la Musique street festival, officials said on Sunday.
The police launched an investigation after attackers reportedly infiltrated the event on Saturday evening, which drew millions of revelers across France. Paris alone experienced “unprecedented crowds,” according to authorities.
Prior to the festival, social media posts had warned that women might be targeted during the celebrations.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that 145 victims nationwide reported being stabbed with needles, including 13 cases in Paris. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the incidents involved so-called needle spiking — where victims are injected with date-rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB, which can cause confusion or unconsciousness and increase vulnerability to sexual assault.
“Some victims were hospitalized and underwent toxicological tests,” the ministry said.
In Paris, prosecutors opened investigations after three individuals—including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male—reported separate needle prick incidents. All three reported feeling unwell.
Among the 12 suspects arrested nationwide, four are from Angoulême in southwestern France and are suspected of targeting approximately 50 victims, a police source revealed.
In addition to these arrests, over 370 people were detained during the festival on various charges, including nearly 90 in Paris.
Fourteen festival attendees sustained serious injuries, including a 17-year-old who was hospitalized after being found with stab wounds to the lower abdomen. Thirteen law enforcement officers were also injured during the events.
Despite these incidents, Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nunez stated that “no major incident has been reported.”
