Do stings in French nightclubs also spread to Brussels?
French nightclubs are suffering from a new phenomenon: unsuspecting revelers are suddenly ‘pricked’. For the time being, it is not clear who the perpetrators are and why they prick people with hypodermic needles. While the number of complaints has been released, on social media also the first testimonials of needlestick incidents in Brussels.
Nantes, Rennes, Béziers, Grenoble: these are just some of the French cities where the number of complaints increases after being mysteriously ‘pricked’ in a disco or other nightclub. For several weeks, both women and men have been ‘injected’ during a party.
Although clearly visible on the body and developed when faints are used, research has not yet been able to determine what exactly is injected. The injections usually appear on the upper body, but toxicological examinations have not yet revealed any injected product. However, the investigation into a number of cases is still ongoing. so far no suspects have been answered.
Brussels testimonials
In between, the first stories of pricks in Brussels surface via social media. On the Facebook page ULB Confessions, a father testifies that his accidental stabbing went out. The facts will date from April 17.
“My son and his friends notice the effect, such as development and only minutes after the injection,” it sounds on Facebook. “That’s why they couldn’t determine who might have done it. My son had the right reflex to get to the hospital within 24 hours and he is currently taking preventative measures against the risks of AIDS from hepatitis. He will have to have blood drawn regularly for several months. He informed the organizers and the police.”
In fact, the original post has been shared more than 2,200 times. So far, our editors have not been able to reach the victim.
‘True epidemic’
The testimony is not alone. In response to the story, a woman posts that the same thing happened to her son’s girlfriend a month ago.
Maïté Meeus of the Balance Ton Bar collective is aware of three testimonials that have trickled in in recent days. “A lot of cases have happened in France in particular. It is becoming a true epidemic there, says Meeus. “In Brussels, it has not yet reached those proportions, but it is time for us to act. We are aware that the phenomenon exists. The payments shouldn’t come off with ‘we didn’t know’.”
According to Meeus, it is also unclear what exactly means the phenomenon. “I assumed GHB was being injected, a drug with a reputation as a rape drug. But for now, the testimonials do not indicate that sexual assault followed the jab.”
The interest group Union Féministe Intersectionnelle Autogérée (UFIA) also says that testimonials are circulating on social media. They worry and demand a political response.
Informed
At the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police zone, they are aware of the testimonies via social media. “But for the time being we have not received a single complaint in our zone,” said spokeswoman Sandra De Tandt. “People may also file a complaint with the zone where they live, of course. Then we don’t see that.” No complaints were received at the Noord police zone either.
To date, the emergency department at UZ Brussel has not seen any cases with complaints about an entry. “We do see from time to time nail, where someone has mixed alcohol or drugs in someone’s drink without the victim’s knowledge. But we have not yet come across these stories via an injection.”
At the Sint-Pietersziekenhuis they are aware of the existence of the phenomenon, but can not say anything about the total possibilities offered by the emergency service. “Our doctors who test patients for HIV are aware of the phenomenon,” it said.
“That is why they also give it to be immediately sent to the emergency department if you receive advice. Then they can be tested for possible infections. You also have to check carefully whether there was a moment of blackout. Because that can indicate a sexual offence.”