Syringe attacks at France-wide music event: How panic spread on social media
As early as June 17, this online media outlet was the first to warn that some internet users were encouraging such assaults at the French music event. Reached by Le Monde, the French high school student who runs the account said his team had "infiltrated" Snapchat groups preparing these actions in several French cities. In the following days, he also shared "advice" on what to do in case of a syringe attack, content that was reposted by the popular feminist account Abrègesœur on TikTok and Instagram.
The rumor snowballed. Across social media, mainly teenagers posted warnings for young women, who were said to be the main targets of these syringe attacks with incapacitating drugs, allegedly intended to facilitate sexual assault. Meanwhile, on June 20, controversial influencer Amine Mojito posted a video in the same vein as his usual tasteless "pranks": He pretended to inject unsuspecting tourists. Shocking and viral, the clip circulated widely and was condemned by many.
Outlandish rumors
This was the atmosphere as the Fête de la Musique took place on Saturday, June 21. According to a report released Sunday by the Interior Ministry, nearly 145 people – most of them young women – contacted authorities with suspicions of having been attacked with a syringe.
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