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At least 145 people have reported being stabbed with syringes during France’s annual music festival Fete de la Musique, also known as World Music Day. The French interior ministry now reports that 12 suspects who they believe were involved in the bizarre series of attacks have been arrested. Their motives currently remain unclear.
According to The Guardian, before the festival had begun there were Snapchat and other social media posts circulating which called for women to be targeted with syringes. Several of the victims reportedly had to be hospitalized.
One suspect in the attacks was tracked down using security footage, according to Metz Mayor Francois Grosdidier. “The municipal police identified him on Rue Serpenoise, arrested him, and made him available to the National Police and the Justice Department,” he said. “I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cellphone, will lead to the identification of other attackers.”
Grosdidier said a total of 15 young females were victimized, seven emergency vehicles were deployed, and a staging area was created for the victims. 13 women also complained of being poked with syringes in the city of Tours, and another 13 made the same claims in Paris.
“Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,” the interior ministry stated.
Authorities have yet to say whether the syringes that were used involved date-rape drugs such as GHB or Rohypnol. At least three people reported feeling sick after being stabbed.
Four people were taken into custody in the city of Angouleme. A police source there reported that those suspects were believed to have targeted around 50 victims.
All total during the festival, more than 370 people were detained on various charges. 14 participants in the festivities were seriously injured, including a 17-year-old who was hospitalized after being discovered sitting on the street with stab wounds to their lower abdomen. 13 members of law enforcement were also injured during the festival.
In 2022, a similar series of attacks occurred on people at clubs, bars, music events and theaters. Police would end up receiving more than 1,000 complaints of people being pricked with syringes, according to Le Monde.