Irmgard’s daughter was not pricked and drugged with a hypodermic needle on Saturday evening when she visited the Pleinfestival in Kaatsheuvel. The girl looked confused a day later. Although her mother made the connection with the festival a day later, that turned out not to be the case. That is what she says to Omroep Brabant on Sunday evening after she has spoken extensively with her daughter.
Mother Irmgard was at the Square Festival on Saturday where her daughter was also. She went home a little earlier. Her daughter was left with a bunch of friends.
“I couldn’t have a conversation with her on the phone a day later. I didn’t know what to think,” the mother told Omroep Brabant on Sunday afternoon.
Later in the evening, Irmgard informs her that luckily nothing happened to her daughter. She was rather afraid that her daughter might have been stung, as with others. Six people indicated that they suspected that they had been stabbed or stung at the Pleinfestival on Saturday evening.
“I don’t feel really safe anymore.”
Sunday is the talk of the town on Anton Piekplein, where Sunday is the last day of the Pleinfestival. “Very intense what happened,” says a young visitor. “I don’t feel really safe anymore, but I’m in the company of some friends who can protect me.”
Fianni, who is also walking around at the event, says that a friend of hers was most likely pricked with a hypodermic needle. “She was sitting on a bench last night and was spinning all over. That was really bad to see.”
“I’m afraid I’ll get stung too, it’s so inconspicuous.”
Like many others, she is upset at what has happened. “I just don’t get why people do this. And I’m afraid I’ll get stung too, it’s so inconspicuous.”
Male visitors are also shocked by what happened on Saturday night. “It’s not pleasant to hear,” Chris says. “It is difficult to deal with, I will continue to pay attention. Other than that, I think there is little you can do about it.”
Six people have since come forward because they suspect they are victims of ‘needle spiking’. An 18-year-old woman, not Irmgard’s daughter, became unwell and was taken to hospital. The Forensic Investigation Service is investigating.
The Square Festival will continue on Sunday. According to a spokesperson for the municipality of Loon op Zand, which includes Kaatsheuvel, it is not yet clear what exactly happened on Saturday evening. Therefore, the municipality sees no reason to cancel the event on Sunday.
The organization of the Square Festival does not want to say anything about what happened.
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