France: 145 festivalgoers jabbed with syringes – DW – 06/24/2025
French Interior Ministry says 145 people nationwide reported being stabbed with a needle during outdoor music events, with police confirming at least 13 cases in Paris.
French police on Sunday detained 12 suspects after scores of people reported being pricked with syringes at events across the country for an annual street music festival.
Fête de la Musique took place all over France, with authorities reporting "unprecedented crowds" in Paris.
The Interior Ministry said 145 people nationwide had reported being stabbed with needles during outdoor music events. Paris police reported 13 cases in the capital.
Officials did not say if these were cases of so-called needle spiking with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB.
The drugs are used by attackers to render victims confused and vulnerable to sexual assault. "Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests," the ministry said.
In Paris, investigations were opened after three people, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, reported being stabbed in separate incidents across Paris, prosecutors said. All three reported feeling unwell.
Four people in the city of Angouleme were reportedly suspected of having targeted around 50 victims.
Before the free music festival began, French feminist influencer Abrège Soeur warned on TikTok that there had been calls on social media for women to be targeted with syringes during the festivities.
She did not reveal where or how she came across the information.
Police said more than 370 people were detained nationwide during the festival on various charges.
Similar incidents took place in June 2022, when several suspects around France were detained for allegedly pricking people with a needle in nightclubs or at concerts.
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DW
7 hours ago
- DW
France: 145 festivalgoers jabbed with syringes – DW – 06/24/2025
French Interior Ministry says 145 people nationwide reported being stabbed with a needle during outdoor music events, with police confirming at least 13 cases in Paris. French police on Sunday detained 12 suspects after scores of people reported being pricked with syringes at events across the country for an annual street music festival. Fête de la Musique took place all over France, with authorities reporting "unprecedented crowds" in Paris. The Interior Ministry said 145 people nationwide had reported being stabbed with needles during outdoor music events. Paris police reported 13 cases in the capital. Officials did not say if these were cases of so-called needle spiking with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB. The drugs are used by attackers to render victims confused and vulnerable to sexual assault. "Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests," the ministry said. In Paris, investigations were opened after three people, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, reported being stabbed in separate incidents across Paris, prosecutors said. All three reported feeling unwell. Four people in the city of Angouleme were reportedly suspected of having targeted around 50 victims. Before the free music festival began, French feminist influencer Abrège Soeur warned on TikTok that there had been calls on social media for women to be targeted with syringes during the festivities. She did not reveal where or how she came across the information. Police said more than 370 people were detained nationwide during the festival on various charges. Similar incidents took place in June 2022, when several suspects around France were detained for allegedly pricking people with a needle in nightclubs or at concerts.
DW
7 hours ago
- DW
France: At least 145 festivalgoers jabbed with syringes – DW – 06/24/2025
French Interior Ministry says 145 people nationwide reported being stabbed with a needle during outdoor music events, with police confirming at least 13 cases in Paris. French police on Sunday detained 12 suspects after scores of people reported being pricked with syringes at events across the country for an annual street music festival. Fête de la Musique took place all over France, with authorities reporting "unprecedented crowds" in Paris. The interior ministry said 145 people nationwide had reported being stabbed with needles during outdoor music events. Paris police reported 13 cases in the capital. Officials did not say if these were cases of so-called needle spiking with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol or GHB. The drugs are used by attackers to render victims confused and vulnerable to sexual assault. "Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests," the ministry said. In Paris, investigations were opened after three people, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old male, reported being stabbed in separate incidents across Paris, prosecutors said. All three reported feeling unwell. Four people in the city of Angouleme were reportedly suspected of having targeted around 50 victims. Before the free music festival began, French feminist influencer Abrège Soeur warned on TikTok that there had been calls on social media for women to be targeted with syringes during the festivities. She did not reveal where or how she came across the information. Police said more than 370 people were detained nationwide during the festival on various charges. Similar incidents took place in June 2022, when several suspects around France were detained for allegedly pricking people with a needle in nightclubs or at concerts.
Int'l Business Times
19 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Syria President Vows Those Involved In Church Attack Will Face Justice
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed Monday that those involved in a "heinous" suicide attack on a Damascus church would face justice, as he called for unity in the diverse, multi-faith country. The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said. The Islamist authorities who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December said the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group, which has not yet claimed the attack. "We promise... that we will work night and day, mobilising all our specialised security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice," interim President Sharaa said in a statement. The attack follows incidents of sectarian violence in recent months, with security one of the greatest challenges for the new authorities. The attack "reminds us of the importance of solidarity, and unity of the government and the people in facing all that threatens our nation's security and stability", Sharaa said. Interior Minister Anas Khattab and intelligence services chief Hussein al-Salameh held an emergency meeting to discuss the investigations, the ministry said in a statement. The attack was the first suicide bombing in a church in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. It was also the first attack of its kind in the Syrian capital since Assad's ouster. A prayer service at the church is scheduled for 6:00 pm (1500 GMT). Since the new authorities took power, the international community has repeatedly urged them to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria's transition, particularly after the recent violence. Interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said Sunday that "the security of places of worship is a red line, and all efforts will be made to ensure people's freedom to perform their religious rites". IS "aims to sow sectarian division and incite all components of Syrian society to take up arms, seeking to show that the Syrian state is unable to protect its communities and citizens", he told a press conference. The top cleric of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority, Grand Mufti Osama al-Rifai, condemned acts of violence and terrorism in a statement Monday. "We express our complete rejection of targeting places of worship and terrorising believers," he said. Foreign condemnation of the attack continued to roll in on Monday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not allow extremists to drag Syria back into chaos and instability, vowing that Turkey would "continue to support the Syrian government's fight against terrorism". Turkey, which is close to the new authorities, has repeatedly offered its operational and military support to fight IS and other militant threats. French President Emmanuel Macron also denounced the "horrible" attack, while the EU said it "stands in solidarity" with Syria in combating ethnic and religious violence. "It is a grave reminder of the need to intensify efforts against the terrorist threat and to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh and other terrorist organisations," spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said, using another name for IS. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed anger after the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church, calling on the new authorities "to take concrete measures to protect all ethnic and religious minorities". Syria's Christian community has shrunk from around one million before the war to fewer than 300,000 due to waves of displacement and emigration. IS seized large swathes of Syrian and Iraqi territory in the early years of the civil war, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in 2014. The jihadists were territorially defeated in Syria 2019 but have maintained a presence, particularly in the country's vast desert. People and rescuers gather at the site of a the suicide attack at Saint Elias church in Damascus on Sunday AFP
