The number of registered women in Spain who have been stabbed with medical needles in nightclubs or at parties has risen to 60, according to Spain’s interior minister.
Fernando Grande-Marasca told state broadcaster TVE that police were investigating whether the “inoculation with toxic substances” was intended to subdue victims and commit crimes, mostly sex offences.
He added that the investigation would also try to determine if there were other motives, such as creating a sense of insecurity or intimidating women.
Waves of needle sticks at music events have also baffled authorities in France, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. French police have counted more than 400 reports in recent months and said the motive for the stabbings is unclear. In many cases, it was also unclear whether the victim had been injected with any substance.
Spanish police have not confirmed any incidents of sexual assault or robbery related to the mysterious stab wound.
The 23 most recent needle attacks have taken place in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain, which borders France, they said.
Spanish police found evidence of drug use by the victim, a 13-year-old girl from the northern city of Gijón, who had the drug ecstasy in her system. Local media reports that the girl was rushed to the hospital by her parents, who were by her side when she felt a prick of something sharp.
In an interview with TVE broadcast on Wednesday, Spain’s Justice Minister Pilar Llop urged anyone who believes they were shot without consent to contact the police, as needle stabbing “is a serious act of violence against women.”
Spanish health authorities have said they are updating their protocols to improve their ability to detect any substances that may have been injected into victims. According to Llop, the toxicology screening protocol requires blood or urine tests to be taken within 12 hours of an alleged attack.
The guidance advises victims to call emergency services immediately and contact a medical center as soon as possible.