Several young women were rushed to the hospital Saturday night after a string of alarming syringe attacks at the Fêtes de la Musique festival in La Rochelle, France, People reports.
Police responded to Rue du Palais around 9:15 p.m. local time after receiving multiple reports of “syringe attacks.” According to a statement shared on social media by Metz Mayor François Grosdidier, emergency teams found several victims—girls and young women between 14 and 20 years old—and provided on-site treatment before transporting them to a nearby hospital.
The extent of their injuries and the exact substances involved are still under investigation.
Authorities arrested a male suspect who was identified via surveillance footage. French outlet Le Républicain Lorrain reported that one of the victims recognized the man. He was handed over to the National Police and the Justice Department. However, no syringes were found on him, and investigators are still trying to determine whether he acted alone.
Grosdidier said investigators are examining the suspect’s phone in hopes of uncovering links to other possible attackers. He also noted that similar syringe incidents were reported at Place de la République and Place Saint-Jacques the same night.
Elsewhere during the festival, police also took another person into custody for allegedly slapping a young girl and had to step in to break up several fights that broke out over the course of the night. In a separate incident, officers rescued a dog that had been left inside a locked vehicle.
So far, the French National Police have not released an official statement regarding the syringe attacks or the broader investigation. Mayor François Grosdidier highlighted that emergency services responded quickly, establishing a victim support point at Place d’Armes and deploying teams citywide to handle the unfolding chaos.
