The well-known street music festival in France has become the center of attention due to a troubling series of syringe attacks. Authorities are now calling for a thorough investigation.
As reported by France 24 through AFP News, authorities have detained 12 suspects after receiving 145 reports from festival attendees claiming they were stabbed during the Fête de La Musique. These incidents occurred across the Paris region.
Emergency services were activated to respond to the situation, as noted by the French outlet Le Republicaine Lorraine.
François Grosdidier, a politician and mayor of Metz, expressed his concerns on Facebook concerning these “injection attacks.” He remarked that cities in France, including Metz, have not been immune to such assaults, especially since the pandemic began.
“Seventeen young girls, ranging from ages 14 to 20, were among those targeted,” he stated, indicating that they were merely enjoying their night out. He emphasized that the attacks affected nearly 150 women nationwide.
Fox News Digital has reached out for comments from the French Ministry of Home Affairs.
Grosdidier also highlighted the worrying trend on social media, where calls for such targeted syringe attacks were circulating, instilling fear of possible coordinated actions.
One influencer shared a warning on Instagram before the festival, mentioning that messages were circulating on Snapchat encouraging people to stab others with contaminated syringes.
It’s still uncertain if the syringes contained “date rape drugs” like rohypnol or GHB. Other European nations are closely monitoring this uptick in attacks, with the UK noting a surge in similar incidents in 2021.
According to reports from the UK Council of National Police Chiefs, the victims of these spikes, whether via needles or drinks, were primarily women. Their findings indicated that there are not just immediate health risks, but also profound emotional impacts, raising concerns about personal safety and the potential for blood-borne diseases.
