145 people injured by spraying at French music festival

145 people injured by spraying at French music festival

The French police arrested 12 people on Sunday, after 145 people reported that they had been stung with syringes during a nationwide street music festival, according to the Interior Ministry of France.

overview of the incidents

The attacks occurred throughout France, with the police in Paris confirming at least 13 cases in the capital. The Ministry of the Interior indicated that it remains unclear whether the incidents of the "needle" - in which attackers use injections to inject victims typically in the arm, leg or buttocks - are connected to drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB that can lead to people who are disoriented and susceptible to attacks.

Investigations and reactions

"The Ministry takes these incidents very seriously," said a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry to CNN on Monday. "Toxicological tests are carried out and the investigation is underway." Millions of people flocked to the streets for the nationwide celebration "Fête de la Musique", whereby the officials described the crowds in Paris as "unprecedented".

warnings in advance

The chief of police of Paris, Laurent Nuñez, reported in an interview with the French broadcaster Cnews that three to four times as many people were present in Paris. Before the festival, feminist influencers like Abrège Soeur had warned that in social media it was called to attack women with syringes.

serious attacks

"These incidents are extremely serious," said Nuñez to CNEWS and described online calls to inject women as "completely idiotic." In Paris, prosecutors announced that investigations were initiated after three people-including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man-reported in separate incidents in the city. All three stated that they felt uncomfortable afterwards, as the CNN branch BFMTV reported.

further arrests