France: Women Injected With Date-Rape Drugs, S*xually Assaulted at Fête de la Musique Festival in Paris

Female tourists who attended France's annual Fête de la Musique celebrations have described the event as an "apocalypse" after reports emerged of women being injected with suspected date-rape drugs, alongside allegations of s*xual assaults, violence and widespread disorder during the nationwide music festival.

French authorities said 243 people were arrested across the country, including 148 in Paris, following multiple incidents reported during the overnight celebrations. Investigations are ongoing into allegations of syringe attacks, s*xual assaults, rapes, stabbings and street violence that occurred during one of France's largest public events. Child Abuse Scandal in France: Over 100 Allegations of Violence and S*xual Assault Spark Massive Nationwide Investigation; 78 School Monitors Suspended.

Female Tourists Describe Chaos at Paris Music Festival

One Irish woman who attended the festival took to TikTok to warn others about her experience. "There's no music, it's world war Z," she said, adding: "It's only sirens and mobs and pandemonium. It's like the apocalypse."

Another woman alleged she and a friend were physically attacked during the chaos. In a video posted on X, she claimed two women approached them, took her phone and assaulted both of them. "One of the two girls who had already thrown my phone to the ground and hit my friend then approached us. She pushed my friend to the ground and started hitting us and kicking us in the head," she said. French Bank Manager Who Raped and Tortured Girlfriend, Forced Her To Have S*x With 487 Men Jailed for 25 Years.

"About three minutes later, some men arrived, followed by the police, but there was nothing we could do. The girls gave their version of events, while my friend and I were left in tears."

Reports of Syringe Attacks and S*xual Assaults

One of the most serious concerns raised during the festival involved reports of women being injected with syringes in crowded areas. Authorities reported more than ten incidents involving women allegedly being attacked with syringes, with investigations underway to determine whether substances had been injected into victims.

A young woman in Paris's 9th arrondissement was reportedly injected before being raped by a man in a private residence around 9.30pm, according to information released by the Interior Ministry.

Separately, a 48-year-old man was arrested in the northern suburb of Gagny for allegedly s*xually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. In Nogent-sur-Marne, another Paris suburb, a 15-year-old girl also reported being raped after attending a concert. Officials said forensic examinations and investigations remain ongoing, and authorities have urged caution until results are confirmed.

Violence Erupts Across Paris

The festival, which attracted more than two million attendees in Paris alone, also saw multiple incidents of street violence. Fresh videos circulating on social media appeared to show groups of young men damaging vehicles, fighting in the streets and creating disturbances in several areas of the city.

In one clip, a man appeared to swing a barstool at a car and a group of men, while another showed people jumping on the shattered windscreen of a vehicle as crowds gathered around.

A 40-year-old man and woman were also stabbed in separate incidents near Toulouse. Both were reported to be in stable condition in hospital on Monday. An investigating source said: "Camera footage of the Fête de la Musique is being studied to try and find those using knives to stab people."

Overcrowding and Security Concerns

Witnesses described severe overcrowding in parts of central Paris, particularly around the Châtelet district near Notre Dame Cathedral, where some of the first disturbances were reported. A British witness identified as Steve said: "Streets became dangerously overcrowded, and trouble makers took advantage."

"A group of young men – some in Paris St Germain football shirts – began punching people, causing chaos." "People were screaming, and there was a real fear that the fighting would cause a massive crush as people tried to get away." Police also intervened in the St Germain de Prés district, where officers reportedly used tear gas to disperse crowds.

The Fête de la Musique, a free annual music festival running for more than four decades, attracts millions of visitors across France and remains one of the country's largest public celebrations.

This year's event took place amid heightened security concerns following previous incidents of violence and s*xual assaults. Paris Deputy Mayor Lamia El Aaraje had earlier acknowledged safety concerns linked to previous editions of the festival.

"Last year there was an impact on the public space, there were excesses, incidents, lots of s*xual violence," El Aaraje said.

Despite the deployment of nearly 5,000 police officers and gendarmes, questions have emerged over crowd management and preventive security measures as authorities continue investigations into the incidents reported during the festival. French officials have said inquiries into the alleged syringe attacks, s*xual assaults, rapes and acts of violence remain ongoing.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2026 07:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).