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French police detained twelve suspects after a wave of syringe attacks disrupted this year’s Fete de la Musique, the country’s annual street music festival, which drew millions into the streets on June 21, 2025. Authorities recorded 145 individuals nationwide reporting injuries from syringe pricks, sparking investigations and public concern.
The event, known for transforming French cities into open-air concert venues every June, saw what officials described as “unprecedented crowds,” particularly in Paris. Ahead of the celebration, posts on social media had called for attacks specifically targeting women, raising alarm about the safety of participants.
According to AFP, France's Ministry of the Interior confirmed that 145 people across France had reported being injected with syringes during the festival. Among these, 13 cases were registered in the capital alone. While the ministry did not clarify whether any of the cases involved the use of sedatives like GHB or Rohypnol—substances associated with so-called “needle spiking”—some victims were hospitalized for toxicology screening.
In Paris, prosecutors launched investigations into three separate incidents involving a 15-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man, and a third unidentified individual. All three victims reported feeling unwell after being pricked. Nationwide, police arrested twelve individuals in connection with the syringe attacks. Four of those detained were taken into custody in the southwestern city of Angouleme, where they are suspected of targeting around 50 people, according to a police source.
Beyond the syringe incidents, authorities also detained over 370 individuals during the night on a range of charges, nearly 90 of whom were apprehended in Paris. Fourteen festivalgoers sustained serious injuries. One 17-year-old was hospitalized after being found with stab wounds to the lower abdomen. Law enforcement also faced violence, with thirteen officers injured during the night.
Despite the string of incidents, the Paris police chief Laurent Nunez stated that “no major incident has been reported,” underlining the overall success of crowd management during one of France’s largest annual public events.
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