France: Hundreds Arrested After Syringe Attack Reports at Music Festival

French police have arrested 12 suspects following reports from 145 individuals claiming they were pricked with syringes during the annual music festival. Millions of people took to the streets across France on Saturday night (June 21, 2025) for the Fête de la Musique festival, with authorities reporting unprecedented crowds in Paris. The Ministry of Interior stated that 145 victims nationwide reported attacks involving needles during outdoor music events. Paris police recorded 13 cases in the capital. Authorities did not confirm whether these incidents involved needle tampering with date rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB, which are used by attackers to confuse or incapacitate victims, making them vulnerable to sexual assault. Investigations commenced in Paris after three individuals, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy, claimed they were pricked by needles in separate incidents. Nationwide, 12 suspects have been arrested, according to the Ministry of Interior. Among them, four individuals in the southwestern city of Angoulême are suspected of targeting approximately 50 victims. A 20-year-old man, previously known to police for violence, is among those arrested. Two men were also detained in Metz for alleged syringe attacks. Regional public broadcaster France 3 reported one man was arrested with a syringe, identified by a woman who reported the incident. The local Metz prosecution revealed that alleged victims were under 18 years old. Several young women reported being pricked with needles in Évreux and Rouen in Normandy. In the western city of Tours, 13 women reported being stabbed with a syringe to firefighting services during a music event. Similar incidents occurred in 2022, prompting government warnings for people going out at night to be cautious and seek immediate police assistance and toxicology tests if they believe they’ve been drugged.