Paris
CNN
–
French police detained 12 people on Sunday after reporting 145 individuals had been stabbed by a syringe, according to the French Ministry of Interior.
The attack took place across France, with Paris police confirming at least 13 lawsuits in the capital.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, it remains unclear whether “needle spikes” in which attackers use syringes to inject victims into arms, legs or butt areas usually contain date rape drugs such as lohypnol or GHB.
“The Ministry takes this very seriously,” a spokesperson for the Home Affairs Department told CNN on Monday. “Toxicology tests are being conducted and investigations are underway.”
Millions of people took them on the streets over the weekend, and authorities have described the Paris crowd as “unprecedented” due to the national celebration of Fete de la Musique.
Speaking to French broadcaster Cnews, Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez said there are three to four times more people in Paris than usual.
Prior to the festival, feminist influencers like Abrège Soeur warned that women were called on social media to target syringes.
“These are very serious cases,” Nunez told Cnews, calling the online call “completely ridiculous.”
In Paris, prosecutors said an investigation was held after three people reported that three people, including a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, were stabbed in separate cases in the city. According to CNN affiliate BFMTV, all three said they were feeling sick later.
In addition to the needle attack, police arrested 371 people across France on Saturday night in various incidents of around 90 people in Paris, the ministry said.
