Reports of “punctures” to women in Spanish nightclubs are growing: they cause dizziness and drowsiness

after the last San Firmino holidaysthe first complaints of stings to women in nocturnal contexts. Since then there has been a stream of cases in several Iberian provinces. For now, none of the complaints contain crimes against sexual freedom or crimes against property.

What is the purpose of these punctures? The investigation is open and the police does not rule out any hypothesisas the motivation, intent or purpose of these stings is unknown.

Many of the victims experience a sensation of dizziness, drowsiness and are in a semi-conscious state. However, no toxins were detected in the blood. The Mossos – the Police of Catalonia – ask for caution and exclude talking about a new technique of chemical submission, since there has been no subsequent aggression and it is not known whether any toxic substance was inoculated and, if so, what it deals with. Still, experts say it is very difficult to detect because they quickly disappear in the blood.

Although the phenomenon is new in Spain, countries such as France or the United Kingdom have been suffering from episodes of this type for months. In particular, the UK police recorded more than 1,300 cases, from September 2021 to January 2022, in night environments. For its part, the French National Police Directorate (DGPN) reported that, as of June 16, there had been more than 1,000 punctures and a total of 800 people have decided to file a complaint. Below, a detail of the cases reported in Spain.

Catalonia

The Mossos d’Esquadra have received since 10 July 21 reports of punctures to women in night clubs. The last two were known this Monday. At the moment, there are 12 cases in Lloret, 7 in the city of Barcelona, ​​one in Girona and one in Salou, for minor. The 17-year-old girl reported early Sunday morning that she had been punctured in a nightclub in Salou and was taken to hospital after experiencing dizziness.

In none of the cases there was a subsequent crime. The Generalitat has updated its protocol of action to deal with these cases. This document specifies that it “will be evaluated activation of the HIV post-exposure prophylaxis protocol“and” establishes the need for a toxic analysis “.

Basque country

At least Ertzaintza is investigating a dozen punctures to women registered in the last 15 days in party places and recreational spaces. The security department reported that the punctures occurred in the Biscay municipalities of Bilbao, Santurtzi, Etxebarri and Zierbana, in Gipuzkoan Zarautz and in the capital of Alava. Additionally, several women reported having suffered punctures this weekend during the San Ignacio festivities in Azpeitia (Guipúzcoa).

As in Catalonia, no toxic substance inoculation remains have been found in any of them. In all cases, the victim reports that he noticed a sting, mainly in the arm or leg, and later began to notice the symptoms.

In the event of being a victim of a puncture, the Basque police recommend that you report it immediately to the nearest environment and ask for help so that they inform the security forces and activate the protocol. It is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible, where the corresponding analysis will be carried out in order to detect any substances.

Asturias

The Gijón National Police is investigating a complaint for stabbing a girl, 13, for an alleged case of submission of chemicals. In this case, the presence of toxic substances in the girl’s body was detected and tested positive liquid ecstasy. The young woman noticed the puncture during the Montevil neighborhood celebrations while she was with a group of friends, but she was not far from her parents and went to them as soon as she noticed the puncture.

Cantabria

Several people requested medical care this weekend due to punctures during the celebration of the Reggaeton Beach Festival Santander. Valdecilla hospital carried out several tests on the victims to determine if they had traces of toxins in their bodies. All tests have been negative so far.

Andalusian

Police are investigating some pierces three women which would be produced in a stand at the Lucena Fair (Córdoba). At the same time, she is also trying to clarify what happened to a young French woman in Malaga after noticing a mark on her arm. The facts happened on July 8 when the woman left a nightclub with a young man she had met that same night. Both went to the apartment of the girl who, the next morning, woke up dazed and with a sign on her arm, as she herself explained to the National Police.

The testimony of a victim: “Suddenly I noticed a puncture”

“I was with my friends at the nightclub when all of a sudden I noticed a puncture”, Says Miriam Alba, 20, for this newspaper. At first, neither she nor her friends gave him any importance. He knew about the latest cases that happened in the entertainment venues in Catalonia and reacted immediately when he saw that he had a mark on his leg. “We ran to the security guard for help. If I hadn’t been with my friends, I don’t know what would have happened to me. “ After ten minutes it collapsed.

Miriam was semi-conscious, she felt very lightheaded and her vision was blurred. She confesses that it is “very difficult to explain”. Workers at Barcelona’s Arena nightclub promptly assisted her and called the Mossos and an ambulance. From that moment on, she Miriam is between 2 and 3 hours in a state of semiconsciousness and with her “will completely annulled” of her.

His complaint is one of the 20 that the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Guàrdia Urbana have received since last 10 July when they received the first. With the exception of one man, the victims are girls, including one under the age of 17. In all cases they received a puncture inside a nightclub. Only in one case did a young woman catch the assailant before she could stab her with something. They are joined by two other complaints received by the Urban Guàrdia this weekend.

In both cases the victims noticed it and there was no sexual violence or subsequent robbery, even if a patrol had to intervene together with the medical staff, who transferred them to the hospital. “From the Guardia Urbana we are reinforcing patrols and we know that searches at the entrances of the premises are stepping up”, explained Alfonso.