Maghreb Edition

Algeria: The strange phenomenon of syringe attacks on children worry parents in AlgeriaF

Posted On 9 March 2023

Number of times this article was read : 1234
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There have been several cases of people attacked by syringe in Algeria. The latest case is that of child injured by a needle attack in the west of the country. The phenomenon of syringe attacks is spreading across the country with the authorities puzzled by the motives of the perpetrators or what the syringes used contain. The latest case took place in Ain Sefra, where on March 7, 2023, a man went to a local police station to report that his six-year-old son was the subject of a brutal injection in front of his school. The perpetrator was not arrested but witnesses say that he or she was wearing a full veil. Analyzes carried out on the child at the hospital did not reveal anything abnormal, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Earlier in the day, authorities in Tiaret reported five similar attacks taken place in recent days. The five victims of these syringe attacks are all girls between 7 and 10 years old. They were hit in their left arm, in front of their schools by “a woman also dressed in a black robe”. Earlier this week, two similar cases were reported by authorities in Boufarik (Blida province) and Birtouta (Algiers).

Last week, three women were arrested in El Attaf (Ain Defla) after allegedly attempting to kidnap a schoolgirl. The prosecutor’s office noted that one of the suspects is known for her “witchcraft” activities, but did not make a link between this case and the phenomenon of child stings.

Authorities have called on parents to teach their children to be vigilant and not to let strangers approach them. While a search for the perpetrators is underway, many commentators speak of witchcraft as a motive of the attacks.

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Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.