Several young women were hospitalized Saturday night following a series of disturbing syringe attacks during the Fêtes de la Musique festival in La Rochelle, France, per People.
Police were called to Rue du Palais around 9:15 p.m. local time after reports of “syringe attacks,” according to a statement from Metz Mayor François Grosdidier (posted to social media). Authorities discovered multiple victims — girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 20 — who emergency responders promptly treated on the scene.
Grosdidier said the victims were later transported to a local hospital for further care. The exact nature of their injuries and the substances potentially injected remain under investigation.
A male suspect was arrested after being identified through surveillance footage and was turned over to the National Police and the Justice Department. One of the victims reportedly recognized him, according to French outlet Le Républicain Lorrain. However, no syringes were found on his person, and it remains unclear if he acted alone.
In his social media post, Grosdidier stated that officials hope further examination of the suspect’s cell phone will lead to identifying other potential attackers. He added that additional syringe attacks were also reported at Place de la République and Place Saint-Jacques.
Elsewhere during the festival, police arrested another individual for allegedly slapping a young girl and intervened in several brawls throughout the night. Authorities also rescued a dog left inside a locked car.
The French National Police have not yet issued a formal statement about the syringe attacks or the ongoing investigation. Mayor Grosdidier emphasized that emergency services acted swiftly, setting up a gathering point for victims at Place d’Armes and deploying resources across the city to manage the chaos.
