Alarming Needle Stabbing Incidents at Fête de la Musique Festival

France's Interior Ministry confirmed that 145 festival-goers, including 13 in Paris, reported needle stabbings during the Fête de la Musique, leading to 12 arrests. Health authorities are investigating the incidents as concerns over needle spiking persist.

French authorities have reported a troubling wave of needle stabbings at the Fête de la Musique festival, with a total of 145 attendees across the country claiming to have been injected without their knowledge. The festival, which took place on Saturday, saw 13 such incidents in Paris alone. In response, law enforcement detained 12 individuals in connection with these alarming attacks.

Officials stated that some victims required hospitalization for toxicological assessments, although details regarding the substances involved in the needle attacks remain unspecified. Despite the severity of the situation, the reported cases represent a fraction of the millions who attended the nationwide music celebration.

This incident mirrors a broader, disturbing trend seen in crowded venues, where individuals have reported being spiked with needles in nightlife settings, including clubs, bars, and festivals. A 2022 report from the British Parliament highlighted over 1,000 cases of such incidents in the UK between September 2021 and December 2022. It noted that around 90% of the reported needle spiking incidents occurred during evenings, though many went unreported.

The ongoing situation raises concerns over public safety at large events, as authorities continue to investigate the full scope and motivation behind these needle attacks.