Quebec festivalgoers report being pricked by possible needles, police arrest suspect

A Surete du Quebec (SQ) squad car. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

Quebec provincial police (SQ) have arrested a man after some festivalgoers reported being pricked by needles over the weekend.

The SQ’s investigation unit in Beauce-Centre said that the alleged offences happened between Aug. 29 and 30, about 75 kilometres south of Quebec City, where workers’ festival, the Festival des Travailleurs Structures de St-Joseph, and the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce Truck Accelerations, a big rig truck festival, were ongoing.

“The suspect allegedly committed assaults, including pricking several people without their knowledge,” the SQ said in a news release. “The investigation suggests that he may have had other victims.”

The suspect is a Saint-Joseph man in his 20s, who has been released on a promise to appear in court.

The SQ said on Tuesday that he was arrested for armed assault and not injecting someone with something without their knowledge, which is a different offence.

The Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) will decide on the charges.

The SQ is asking anyone who believes that they may have “been administered a harmful substance, regardless of how, to go to a hospital as soon as possible to have samples taken to determine whether this is the case and, if so, what substance is involved.”

In addition, anyone with information about the suspect or alleged assaults is asked to call the SQ at 1-800-659-4264.

Needle spiking

It is not the first time festivalgoers have reported “needle spiking” this summer.

Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating after ÎleSoniq Music Festival goers reported being pricked by possible needles.

No arrests have been made in that case.

In France, police detained 12 people after 145 victims reported being pricked during the country’s annual street music festival in June.

• READ MORE: Wave of syringe attacks mar France’s street music festival