The French police arrested an illegal immigrant of Afghan origin after several attendees at the Barques en Scène festival, held in Narbonne, reported being deliberately attacked with a syringe while participating in the festivities.
The incidents occurred during the event, which brings together thousands of people each year in this city of the Aude department. According to the reports received by the authorities, some attendees felt stings while they were in the crowd, initially failing to identify the responsible person.
The Barques en Scène festival
After receiving the alerts, the agents deployed an operation to locate the suspect. Finally, an immigrant of Afghan nationality was arrested in connection with the reports and is in the custody of the authorities while the investigation continues.
The case raised concerns among attendees due to the possibility that the victims had been injected with some substance. The authorities must now determine whether an inoculation actually took place and, if so, what substance may have been used and for what purpose.
The investigation also seeks to establish whether there is a connection between the different reports and to determine the exact number of affected individuals. Possible victims may undergo medical checks to see if they show injuries or traces of any substance.
Such episodes had already raised concerns in France during previous festivals and mass events. In 2025, during the Music Festival, dozens of people reported being pricked with needles or syringes in various cities across the country, leading to several arrests and a police investigation.
The Barques en Scène festival takes place in Narbonne over several days and combines concerts and cultural activities in public spaces. The large concentration of people makes it easier for an aggressor to approach a victim without being immediately identified.
Illegal Afghan immigrants in France
The police are keeping the investigation open to clarify the circumstances of the incident that occurred in Narbonne and to determine whether the arrested individual acted alone or if there are other people involved.
For now, the arrest constitutes a step within an investigation that must determine what exactly happened, how many people were affected, and whether the stings were accompanied by the introduction of any substance into the victims' bodies.
