There were instances of unrest in parts of France over the weekend after a number of brawls broke out during the famous Fête de la Musique music festival.
145 festival goers reported being assaulted with syringes, with 13 such cases in Paris alone. France 24 reported that the Ministry for the Interior had not specified whether the syringe attacks were carried out in order to administer drugs used to make victims vulnerable to sexual assault.
“Some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests,” the ministry said.
Videos purporting to capture a number of brawls and clashes with police attached to the festival have been widely shared on social media.
It was reported that before the festival, videos encouraging the targeting of women were posted on SnapChat.
14 festival goers were seriously injured among them a 17-year-old who sustained stab wounds to the lower abdomen.
12 suspects have been detained in relation to the needle stab incidents.
13 law enforcement officials also sustained injuries amid the violent scenes attached to the festival which drew “unprecedented crowds” according to local media.
Approximately 370 people were arrested in connection to various incidents related to the festival.