Nightmare needles: From 1819 to 2025, Paris faces persistent syringe terror

In recent times, France has been grappling with a deeply disturbing phenomenon: a surge in “syringe attacks,” primarily targeting young women in public spaces such as nightclubs, concerts, and festivals. These insidious assaults involve individuals being discreetly pricked with a needle, often without their immediate knowledge, leading to a sudden onset of symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and disorientation. While the motives behind these alarming incidents often remain unclear, the attacks have instilled widespread fear, raising serious concerns about potential drugging, assault, or the injection of unknown substances, forcing authorities to launch extensive investigations into this unsettling trend.

This report details five documented syringe attack incidents that occurred in France between 1819 and 2025, with a primary focus on incidents where young women were targeted.

145 victims report syringe assaults during France’s Fête de la Musique

On June 21, 2025, France’s annual street music festival, the Fête de la Musique, was marred by a disturbing wave of syringe attacks across the country. A total of 145 individuals reported being pricked with syringes, including 13 cases in the capital, Paris, during the celebrations.

Authorities swiftly launched investigations, with several victims taken to hospitals for toxicological testing. French police have since detained 12 suspects in connection with these incidents, notably arresting four individuals in the southwestern city of Angoulême who are suspected of targeting around 50 victims.

Over 300 syringe assaults reported in French nightlife scene in 2022

Between April and June 2022, more than 300 individuals across France reported being unexpectedly pricked with needles while at nightclubs or concerts. Investigations into these unsettling incidents revealed that two victims tested positive for GHB, a potent anesthetic often used by predators. This series of attacks in France also mirrored similar incidents reported in neighboring Belgium, where people were pricked with needles at nightclubs, a soccer game, and even during the Belgian Pride parade, highlighting a wider regional concern.

Syringe attacks at Toulon concert lead to Arrest

On the night of June 3-4, 2022, three women attending a concert in Toulon, France, reported being pricked with a syringe. These attacks occurred in a crowded setting, aligning with similar incidents reported across the country at the time. A 20-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged with “aggravated violence with a weapon” in connection with these assaults.

Woman pricked at French nightclub, two arrested

On the night of June 10-11, 2022, a 25-year-old woman was pricked with a needle at a nightclub in Six-Four-Les-Plages, France. After reporting the incident, she later fainted. Two suspects were arrested, formally placed under investigation, and received preliminary charges for the suspected administration of a harmful substance in connection with the attack.

Historical precedent: Syringe attacks in Paris from 1819

Intriguingly, syringe attacks are not a new phenomenon in Paris. Historical records, specifically from Le Moniteur Universel (the official publication of the French government), document a wave of such incidents in 1819. Over 400 individuals, primarily young women, were pricked to the point of bleeding within a few months. These attacks predominantly occurred in public spaces such as theaters, markets, and streets, with the buttocks being the most frequent target. Historian Emmanuel Fureix describes this “crime committed amongst the anonymity of crowds and bodies” as a combination of sexual vulnerability, moral panic, and political instrumentalisation.

The recurrent incidents of syringe attacks in France, particularly those targeting women across various public settings and events—from 19th-century public spaces to contemporary music festivals and nightclubs—reveal a disturbing and persistent pattern of violence. These assaults not only cause immediate physical harm and distress but also contribute to a broader sense of vulnerability and fear, prompting authorities to take action and highlighting the enduring challenges of ensuring public safety in crowded environments.