Officials report that a group of teenage girls was involved in an unusual incident at the French National Music Festival on Saturday, where around 150 concertgoers were reportedly attacked with syringes.
Law enforcement agencies, both local and national, are looking into a series of bizarre cases that have affected 145 victims, with several requiring hospitalization after being found with syringes containing unknown substances.
The initial incident took place around 9:15 p.m. on Palais Street in Metz, northeastern France, as noted by Mayor François Grosdidie.
Following the attack, authorities were able to identify a suspect using security footage. Grosdidie explained that the police located the individual on Serpenoise Street, detained him, and handed him over to the National Police and the Department of Justice.
“We hope this investigation will help identify other assailants, especially by examining his cell phone,” he added.
Firefighters were quick to respond, deploying seven emergency vehicles and setting up areas for the victims.
This year, French officials had anticipated a record turnout for the Fêtes de La Musique.
The festival features a blend of professional and amateur musicians performing across various venues, from parks to street corners throughout the country. Officials estimated that approximately 50,000 people attended one concert in Metz, with an unprecedented crowd in Paris.
Across France, millions took to the streets for the festivities, although reports of the syringe attacks were not immediately present on social media platforms like Snapchat, according to La Monde.
The Home Office confirmed that 145 individuals were reported injured due to these needle incidents, with Paris police investigating 13 cases in the capital.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether the syringes contained substances often used in sexual assaults, such as Rohypnol or GHB. At least three individuals have reported feeling unwell after encounters with a syringe-wielding attacker.
Police have apprehended 12 suspects linked to the syringe attacks, according to the Home Office. Reports suggest that these attackers targeted around 50 victims, as per police sources relayed by La Monde.
