France's Fête de la Musique festival sees reports of 145 needle stabbing incidents, leading to 12 arrests as officials investigate the alarming trend of covert injections in crowded venues.
Disturbing Needle Attacks Reported at Fête de la Musique in France
Disturbing Needle Attacks Reported at Fête de la Musique in France
Over 145 individuals report being jabbed with needles during the annual music festival, raising safety concerns across the nation.
In a troubling development, France's Interior Ministry revealed that 145 individuals, including 13 from Paris, had reported being pierced with needles during the festivities of the annual Fête de la Musique on Saturday. In light of the incidents, authorities have apprehended twelve individuals believed to be connected to the needle stabbings.
“Some victims were required to undergo hospital evaluations for potential toxic substances,” stated the ministry. There remain few details concerning the apprehended suspects or the contents of the syringes used in the reported attacks. Although the total count of victims is relatively minor when juxtaposed with the millions celebrating across France, these reports highlight a disconcerting pattern of needle spiking occurrences that have escalated in various crowded atmospheres such as clubs and bars in recent years.
The troubling trend isn't confined to French soil; a report by the British Parliament published in 2022 documented over 1,000 needle spiking incidents in the UK from September 2021 through December 2022. This report, based on a survey of over 3,000 witnesses and victims, indicated that approximately 90% of these incidents transpired in bars and nightclubs during evening hours, although various cases also took place at festivals and private gatherings.
Notably, the report emphasized the difficulty in accurately gauging the prevalence of needle spiking incidents, suggesting that many additional attacks likely remain unreported.
