Montréal Police Investigating Needle Attacks at îLESONIQ Music Festival

Police in Montréal are investigating reports that six people were deliberately pricked, possibly with needles, during the 2025 edition of îLESONIQ Music Festival earlier this month, CBC reports.

The incidents occurred on August 9th and 10th during îLESONIQ, an annual electronic dance music festival that draws thousands to the sprawling Parc Jean-Drapeau. Victims, including both men and women, reported feeling sharp stings while in crowds near the stages, according to a police statement released Friday.

Several of those affected experienced dizziness following the alleged attacks, though police said it was too early to confirm whether the incidents were connected or to provide additional details about their ongoing investigation.

Among the reported cases was a 22-year-old woman who told officers she felt a pinch while standing near a stage on the festival’s first night. Despite feeling dizzy, she declined medical treatment and returned to enjoy the remainder of the event.

Pamela Binette, director of GRIP, a harm reduction organization that deployed staff at the festival, said her team assisted three people who reported being pricked. The victims displayed symptoms of anxiety and panic, she said, describing it as the first time her organization had encountered such incidents at Quebec festivals.

“Hyperventilation, panic, but mostly related to the fear about what had just happened,” Binette said of the symptoms she observed.

Evenko, the event’s promoter, said in a statement that it was “taking the incidents very seriously” and working closely with police and medical staff to ensure attendee safety.

îLESONIQ’s organizers released a statement of their own on Friday, confirming that the Montréal Police Service are investigating six separate incidents.

“The safety of our festival-goers is our top priority, and we take these incidents very seriously,” reads the statement, translated from French. “Our teams are working closely with the police, on-site medical staff, and a dedicated prevention group to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. We understand how concerning these incidents are, and we are sincerely sorry.”

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