Millions of people took to the streets of France on Saturday (14 June) evening for the Fête de la Musique, with authorities reporting unprecedented crowds in Paris.

This is due to the popularity of the annual festival, however, this year the event was largely promoted across social media, resulting in people travelling from other countries to experience the festivities in the French capital.

The emergency services were called at around 9.15 pm local time reporting a syringe attack in the French capital, per Metz Mayor François Grosdidier on Instagram.

According to Metz Mayor when the authorities responded to Rue du Palais they reported multiple women between the ages of 14 and 20 were victims of the cowardly attack.

It was later revealed a male suspect was arrested. The local police were able to locate and identify the alleged attacker through video footage. After his arrest, he was handed over to the National Police and Justice Department.

Grosdidier wrote in his post that this arrest will hopefully lead to the identification of other perpetrators: “I hope that the investigation, particularly through the examination of his cell phone, will lead to the identification of other attackers.”

It is believed that syringe attacks also took place at the Place de la République and Place Saint-Jacques, per Le Républicain Lorrain.

The French outlet also claims that victims were taken to a local hospital for immediate care after the attack.

One of the victims was able to identify the man behind the syringe attacks.

However, it is not yet clear if the suspect acted alone. When the suspect was arrested, there were no syringes found on his person and the items used during the attack have yet to be identified.

Even though it was reported 12 people were hospitalised, it is believed over 145 people were injured with a syringe at the music events throughout France.

The attacks appear to have followed calls on social media for women to be injected with syringes, per Metro.