A group of teenage girls were attacked with acid by three hooded assailants while walking home from trick-or-treating Saturday evening in the Villejuif area, a suburb of Paris. French authorities are investigating the incident, which involved an explosive acid substance launched from a bottle, reportedly injuring six teens.
According to police reports, the girls, dressed in Halloween costumes, were followed by three hooded youths around 8:30 p.m. The attackers threw a soda bottle containing a corrosive substance that exploded on impact, splashing the girls’ costumes and exposing their skin, eyes, and mouths to the chemical mixture.
The Paris Fire Brigade confirmed the bottle contained hydrochloric acid mixed with aluminum—an explosive and highly corrosive combination. Fortunately, the victims escaped without serious injuries, though they required medical attention for minor chemical exposure. The bottle was recovered by a parent of one of the victims and turned over to authorities.
No suspects have been apprehended as of Sunday. The attackers, described only as “hooded youths,” fled the scene immediately after the assault. The motive remains unclear.
The attack comes amid growing safety concerns in France, particularly surrounding violence against women and girls. A petition signed by over 12,000 citizens calls for special women-and-children-only train carriages on the Paris RER transit system, citing escalating harassment and assaults on public transportation.
Public backlash has reignited debate over France’s immigration policies. Some petitioners and commentators argue that lax enforcement and the failure to deport criminal migrants are contributing to public insecurity. Critics warn that France’s lenient stance on border enforcement is fueling unrest and placing women and children at greater risk.
