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France, 145 women report attacks with syringes during Music Festival

The “pricking” technique used to inject drugs for abuse. Twelve arrests and toxicological analyses underway. The Ministry of the Interior raises the alarm after appeals on social media

A real security emergency hit France during the Music Festival. At least 145 women have gone to the police to report assaults involving suspicious injections, according to the French Ministry of the Interior. The technique used involves “puncturing” with syringes containing sleeping pills or narcotic substances, taking advantage of the confusion at large public gatherings.

The phenomenon emerged strongly after appeals circulated on social media in the hours leading up to the event to “prick” women during the celebrations. The news generated a wave of indignation, as well as a police crackdown. Twelve people were arrested and some of the victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests.

The case draws attention to the growing threat of date rape drugs, a scourge that exploits the chaos of mass events to strike in a subtle and dangerous way. The French authorities have guaranteed that checks will continue and that prevention and surveillance measures will be stepped up.

The government has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution and has promised a severe response against the perpetrators of these acts, which it has described as “vile and criminal”.

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