What happened at Fêtes de la Musique? Nearly 150 concertgoers including teenage girls jabbed with a syringe at French music festival

Several syringe attacks were reported across France on the past Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day. Almost 150 people claimed to be the victims of the bizarre incidents that allegedly happened at various music events across the country.

According to France’s Interior Ministry, at least 145 reported getting stabbed with needles while the Fêtes de la Musique festivities were still going on. Per the officials, many of the alleged victims are teenage girls.

The authorities didn’t specify whether the syringes were filled with date-r*pe drugs “such as Rohypnol or GHB,” which can leave someone “confused or unconscious and vulnerable” to assault, Le Monde reported.

A representative of the Interior Ministry told CNN on Monday, June 23,

“The ministry is taking this very seriously. Toxicology tests are being done and the investigation is ongoing.”

According to Le Monde, the authorities apprehended 12 suspects after the reports of syringe attacks emerged nationwide. As many as 13 cases were reported in Paris, according to the French newspaper.

One of the first syringe attacks was reported in Metz amidst the Fêtes de la Musique celebrations

As in previous years, the annual music festival was one of the biggest nights of 2025 across France, drawing massive numbers in terms of crowd. However, when many were celebrating Fêtes de la Musique, many cases of syringe attacks started emerging. According to Mayor François Grosdidier of the City of Metz, one of the first incidents was reported around 9:15 pm on Saturday.

In an Instagram post, he revealed that the two individuals were arrested during Fêtes de la Musique festivities, with one of them being a suspected syringe attacker. Furthermore, the first such case was reported to the authorities on the Rue du Palais. The mayor also reported that as many as 15 girls, aged between 14 and 20, were among the victims.

Mayor Grosdidier said in his Instagram post (translated from French),

“A report of a syringe attacker was given to the CSU to locate him in the footage, as well as to the national and municipal police. The municipal police identified him on Rue Serpenoise, arrested him, and handed him over to the National Police and the Justice Department. I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cell phone, will lead to the identification of other attackers.”

Mayor Grosdidier also revealed that the firefighters responded in large numbers to each attack that was reported on the night of Fêtes de la Musique. He further added that the authorities established a gathering point for the victims at Place d'Armes around 11:30 pm.

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Le Monde also reported about three separate incidents in Paris at different music events. The three people who were attacked included a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male. According to Le Monde, the investigations were opened in Paris after these isolated incidents, while all three people were reported to be unwell.

Apart from the syringe attacks, the authorities detained more than 370 people on the night of Fêtes de la Musique based on various charges. More than 90 of them were arrested in Paris.

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