Multiple suspects have been arrested after 145 people were reportedly jabbed with syringes at annual music festival events across France.
It happened at Fête de la Musique
People come together in different towns and cities in France for a summer street festival called Fête de la Musique, which translates to ‘celebration of music’. The annual festival takes place on June 21.
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Parties were set up in different venues, parks, and street corners across the European country for the festival.
There were syringe attacks at different locations
The fun didn’t last as over 100 people were reported to have been stabbed with needles at the festival events all over the country.
According to France24, the reported number of attack victims so far is 145, with Paris police reporting 13 cases in the French capital.
The victims were mostly teenage girls
The interior ministry confirmed that most of the 145 victims who were pricked with syringes were teenage girls.
The news outlet further reported that investigations were opened when three people, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy reported being stabbed in three different locations in Paris.
There were threatening posts on social media
It was reported by multiple outlets that there were several posts on Snapchat and other social media, prior to the party, encouraging the targeting of women during the festivities, as per France24 and Le Monde.
Some people were hospitalized
France24 also reported that fourteen festival goers were seriously injured by the attack, ‘including a 17-year-old who was hospitalised after being found sitting on the street with stab wounds to the lower abdomen.’
Thirteen members of the law enforcement were also injured at the festival.
What did the syringes contain?
Officials did not state whether the syringes contained date-rape drugs such Rohypnol or GHB, often used by attackers to render victims confused or vulnerable to sexual assault.
But the ministry said, “Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests.”
Twelve people have been arrested in relation to the attacks
According to the interior ministry, twelve people suspected of being responsible for the syringe stabbings were arrested across France.
A police source says they are believed to have targeted around 50 victims, as per the outlet.
Others were detained during the festival
Apart from the suspects arrested in relation to the syringe attacks, more than 370 people were detained during the festivities on various charges, with nearly 90 of those arrests being in Paris.