145 people were stabbed by syringes at French music festival, 12 arrested – Country
French police were stabbed 145 people at a music festival in France on Saturday, who arrested 12 suspects, leaving more than a dozen young women hospitalized.
Metz Mayor François Grosdidier said that he called police at about 9:15 p.m. local time to learn about the “syringe attack” during the French music festival Fête dela Musique, with millions of people on the streets across France.
Grosdid said when authorities responded to Rupais of La Rochelle, several girls and women aged 14 to 20 were found to be victims of the syringe attack.
He said the victim was taken to a local hospital for further care after being treated by emergency personnel at the scene. The potential injection substance that has not been disclosed is still under study as the Ministry of Home Affairs awaits results for toxicological tests.
“I hope that the investigation, especially by checking his cell phone, will lead to identification by other attackers,” Grosdidier added.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the 12 suspects were arrested in France. Four people in the city of Culham are reportedly suspected of targeting about 50 victims.
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Police said more than 370 people were detained on various charges during the festival.
Thousands of people gathered in the Chatelet district and the banks of the Seine River to celebrate Fête dela Musique in 2025 as the band and DJ played in Paris, France on June 21, 2025.
Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty Images
Before the free music festival began, French feminist influencer Abrège Soeur warned the public online that there were calls on social media for women targeting syringes during the celebrations. (Soeur did not clarify how she encountered this information, or what she saw online.)
She recommends using the alert code to “protect women” and warns others that they will use the code if they see anyone in danger.
For anyone who seems to be in danger, the proposed code should be asked whether or not you purchased a shirt at the clothing store H&M. If they respond with a different brand, that means they are not at risk. She also advises that if someone is in danger, add “H&M, right?” to help determine that they need help.
A similar incident occurred in June 2022 when several suspects around France received preliminary charges for allegedly stabbing people with needles in nightclubs or being detained at concerts.
At that time, the French Ministry of Interior, prosecutors, the National Anti-Drug Service, public health authorities and doctors had not determined the motive for the attack, or whether the victim's drugs, viruses or any substance was injected at all.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, from January 2022 to June 2022, 1,004 people filed formal complaints about acupuncture with French authorities.
In the case that led to the allegations, medical tests revealed no signs of any harmful substances, including the so-called date rape drug GHB. The suspect denied all charges.
At the time, targeted people (mainly women) had obvious injection marks, usually bruises, and reported symptoms such as drowsiness. The ministry officials urged to carefully assume the link between acupuncture and GHB.
An investigation into the stabbing of Fête dela Musique is underway.
– Documents with the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
