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France Detains 12 After Wave of Syringe Pricks at Fête de la Musique

Victims are undergoing toxicology screening to identify injected substances after social media posts urged attacks on women.

People attend France's annual street music festival, the Fete de la Musique, on the Seine river banks in Paris on June 21, 2025.
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Thousands of people gather at the Chatelet district and on the banks of the Seine to celebrate Fete De La Musique 2025 as bands and DJ's play across Paris, France on June 21, 2025. (Photo by Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • A total of 145 people across multiple cities, including 13 in Paris, reported being pricked with syringes during the June 21 festival.
  • Twelve suspects have been arrested in connection with the attacks, with police sources saying they targeted around 50 victims.
  • Over 370 other individuals were detained on various charges during the nationwide celebrations, nearly 90 of them in Paris.
  • Authorities have not yet determined the syringe contents and are performing toxicological tests on hospitalised victims who reported feeling unwell.
  • Pre-festival social media calls to target women prompted heightened safety warnings and are now central to the ongoing investigation.