Some 145 people reported being stabbed with syringes during a street festival held across France. The French police have detained 12 suspects, according to reports, with some victims taken to hospital.

Millions attended the annual street musical festival, Fête de la Musique, which translates as Music Day and traditionally takes place on June 21 across the country. Investigations are ongoing and it is not known at this stage whether the syringes were spiked with date-rape drugs such as Rohypnol.

France’s interior ministry said “some victims were taken to hospital for toxicological tests”.

Before the festival got underway, there were posts on social media urging women to be careful after posts were allegedly shared calling for women to be attacked.

Investigations were launched in Paris after three people, including a 15-year-old girl, reported being pricked in three different areas of the city, prosecutors said, according to Le Monde, with all three reported feeling unwell.

Police said there were 13 cases in the French capital where there were “unprecedented crowds”.

France’s interior ministry has confirmed 12 suspects have been arrested.

According to reports citing a police source, four people in the south-western city of Angoulême are suspected of having targeted about 50 victims.

Ouest France reports that, despite reports of 15 people being “pricked” in Nantes, no syringes have been found in the city.

Two men were arrested in north-eastern city of Metz after 10 girls were allegedly attacked with a syringe, France Info reports. 

Mayor Francois Grosdidier said the suspect was tracked down using CCTV footage, The Sun reports.

He said: “The municipal police identified him on Rue Serpenoise, arrested him, and made him available to the National Police and the Justice Department.

“I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cellphone, will lead to the identification of other attackers.”

Hundreds of people are reported to have been arrested during the festival on various charges.