Glasto copycat fears after 145 women stabbed with syringes at French events

GLASTONBURY revellers are being warned to take extra care after 145 women reported being stabbed with syringes at a nation-wide music festival in France.

- By James Knuckey

Colin Mackie, founder of Spike Aware UK, said such high-profile cases often lead to copycat crimes.

With Glastonbury starting tomorrow, he said: "I think vigilance is going to be a major point, especially at an event where you're probably slightly less inhibited, you're more likely to be a target, and when there's so many people bumping into each other.

"You might just not realise you've been spiked with a needle."

His warning comes after dozens of people attending events across France for Fête de la Musique — "World Music Day" — reported being stabbed with syringes. It followed sick calls on social media for women to be attacked this way.

The first reports came from Metz, eastern France. Its mayor, Francois Grosdidier, said the victims were mainly girls aged between 14 and 20.