Across several regions in Spain, authorities have updated and activated response protocols in what are being treated as potential cases. While officials urged caution, most analyses to date have found no toxic substances involved, and no reports indicate women suffered criminal acts connected to these events. Health and safety teams emphasize the importance of timely medical evaluation after suspected puncture incidents, and they advise seeking urgent toxicology screening where appropriate.
Revised guidance now recommends dialing 112 to report any incident, followed by a visit to a health center for a toxicology assessment as soon as possible. Medical professionals will also determine whether the HIV post-exposure prophylaxis protocol should be activated in any given case.
The number of complaints has risen, with dozens of women recounting sensations of puncture or injection while at parties, venues, festivals, or concerts.
In Catalonia, authorities report 23 complaints, and police sources, cited by Efe, indicate that regional leadership has urged the public to stay vigilant, report suspicious behavior, and help isolate any individuals involved. The regional government leader stressed that this is a matter affecting all communities, not just women, and called for collective responsibility in safety at social gatherings.
The Basque Government is coordinating a multi-agency response with meetings between Health, Safety, and Justice departments after a dozen puncture-related complaints were reviewed by the Ertzaintza.
Officials emphasize that these instances are not seen as isolated criminal acts of sexual violence, and Beatriz Artolazabal, the minister overseeing Equality, Justice, and Social Policy, urged calm and practical measures while condemning any act of violence against women. She warned that fear itself is the real threat to public safety and freedoms.
The Extremadura Health Service (SES) has issued a health alert to inform clinicians and the public about how to respond when puncture cases are suspected, describing the issue as an emerging health concern for the region.
The Valencian Community launched a plan to empower police forces, including the National Police and the Civil Guard, to prevent sexual assaults and puncture incidents during the busy summer period. At the time of reporting, no formal complaints had been filed with the national forces in this context.
According to armed forces sources cited by Efe, six possible punctures were identified within their jurisdiction, including four in the Balearic Islands across Ibiza and Mallorca. Only three of these cases resulted in formal complaints, and none yielded a positive toxicology result on analysis.
There is one notable deviation from the general pattern. In Gijón, a minor under 13 reported a puncture during a neighborhood party in Montevil, with tests at Cabueñes Hospital indicating a substance positive for liquid ecstasy in the laboratory analysis.
Cantabria authorities reported eleven individuals evaluated, with four complaints linked to a Reggaeton festival in Santander; all tests for toxic substances came back negative.
A separate investigation concerning a possible puncture at the Montegros Desert Festival in Aragon has been opened, while Castilla-La Mancha reports a single complaint with negative results in Toledo after analysis.
Given the relatively small number of cases, Joaquim Boadas, the general secretary of the nightlife association Fecarsam, urged calm and stated that venues and clubs remain safe environments when proper precautions are observed.
During interviews with Efe, Boadas suggested a downtrend in puncture incidents, comparing the trajectory to trends seen in France and the United Kingdom. (Efe)