At least 145 woman were attacked with syringes during an eruption of violence apparently instigated by people from migrant backgrounds during the nationwide French music celebration Fête de la Musique (Music Day).
On the annual Music Day held on June 21, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighbourhoods or in public spaces and parks.
This year, many partygoers in major French cities were confronted by violent incidents and fights.
Prior to the festival, calls appeared on social media “to attack and stab women”.
Some women shared their story on social media. Across the country, 145 women filed police complaints, 21 of them in Paris alone, the interior ministry said on June 23.
One of the culprits caught jabbing women was allegedly a man from Bangladesh who was in the country illegally.
According to newspaper Le Parisien, the police reported that four suspects were arrested who were said to have allegedly stabbed around 50 people with syringes in the city of Angoulême.
Police have not disclosed what, if anything, was in the syringes.
In the city of Metz, 10 young girls were attacked with syringes, most of them under 18 years old. One suspect was arrested.
There were also reports of people carrying knives and some stabbing incidents.
Several shops were also looted and there were also robberies.
According to a count by the fire brigade, there were 51 vehicles torched and 39 fires lit on public roads.
In Annecy, an elementary school was allegedly intentionally set ablaze, causing “very severe damage”, according to news outlet 20minutes on June 22.
Witnesses said they saw youths smashing the school’s windows with stones before the the fire began.
🔴🔞🇫🇷 ALERTE VIDÉO | Compilation des vidéos de la #FetedelaMusique pic.twitter.com/tkdE8DCTWM
— Jon De Lorraine (@jon_delorraine) June 22, 2025
A total of 371 individuals were arrested nationwide on the night of June 21, with 89 arrests in Paris alone. Twelve suspects were specifically detained in connection with the syringe attacks.
Many of the arrested people were reportedly minors.
Thirteen members of the security forces were injured, 14 participants in the festivities were seriously injured and about 1,500 people needed medical assistance, including people who fell sick, possibly as a result of the needle attacks.
Social media was flooded with disturbing scenes from across France.
In one video a woman was seen struggling with a group of men, where one man steps in and kicked her violently in the head while she lay on the ground.
L’auteur du coup de pied dans le visage de cette femme doit être identifié et retrouvé @PoliceNationale @BrunoRetailleau @Gendarmerie #FetedelaMusique pic.twitter.com/90p5Z7xp5q
— Antho Ⓜ️ (@MAnthoParis) June 21, 2025
In another clip, young women from London were approached by so-called youngsters who call them “Kerba”, a derogatory term in Moroccan meaning “prostitute” or “whore”.
Despite the violence, on June 23, Laurent Nuñez, the Paris Police Prefect, insisted on news channel CNEWS that “the music festival went well”, noting that the number of incidents were low given the high number of people partying.
World Music Day is a global music festival held annually. Started in France in 1982, it invites musicians — both amateur and professional — to give free public performances in streets, parks and other open spaces.
Coinciding with the summer solstice, the event celebrates musical diversity, community spirit, and cultural exchange. Events are typically free and locally organised, with international co-ordination by the Fête de la Musique network.
This year, there was also a lot of rubbish and waste left behind on the streets.
The event marked the second major public gathering in France to descend into violence and rioting this year.
On May 31, celebrations following Paris football team PSG’s Champions League victory quickly descended into clashes with police, vandalism and widespread unrest.
🚨 🇫🇷 Après la Fête de la Musique, les éboueurs sont à bout. Après chaque grand événement à Paris, c’est toujours la même scène : des rues jonchées de déchets… pic.twitter.com/uLJIoUvX2v
— Wolf 🐺 (@PsyGuy007) June 22, 2025
