Authorities investigating the deadly stampede at US rapper Travis Scott’s concert in Houston, Texas on Friday night confirmed claims of “needle spiking” – a horrifying new take on drink spiking where unsuspecting people are injected with an unknown substance. A security guard working the festival was attempting to grab or restrain someone during the scuffle when he felt a prick on his neck before he lost consciousness Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told a press conference on Saturday local time.Medical staff who helped the guard also reported a mark on his skin that aligned with such an event, Fox News reported. It is unclear what substance was injected into the security guard, but medics administered Narcan – a drug used to revive people who’ve overdosed on opioids, including fentanyl.14-year-old among deadChief Finner said there are “a lot of narratives” floating around regarding what happened at the event, but confirmed Narcan was given to several individuals. Meanwhile, more details about the eight victims who lost their lives in the tragic incident were also given by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Mr Turner confirmed victims were aged 14 and 16, while two were aged 21 and two were 23. One was a 27-year-old while the age of one victim remains unknown, Fox News reports.He also revealed that 25 people were hospitalised, including several attendees under the age of 18.‘Someone’s dead, stop the show’Confronting footage on social media shows fans at the 50,000 strong event being treated by paramedics at the scene.In one clip, a woman can be seen scaling a camera tower to beg for help, with little response to her desperate pleas.“There’s someone dead, stop the show,” she can be heard yelling up to the staffer.More clips show terrifying scenes of chaos as fans “began to compress” towards the front of the stage while Scott was performing. Scott’s pregnant girlfriend Kylie Jenner and their three-year-old daughter were watching the rapper perform from backstage, sharing a since deleted clip of an ambulance pushing through the crowd to get to someone in aid. She was later slammed for sharing the distressing footage, with many branding it “insensitive”, “disgraceful”, and “alarming”.‘Absolutely devastated’Scott – who was recorded at one point stopping his performance to ask for assistance to those struggling at the front of the crowd – has issued a statement sharing his heartbreak over the incident. “I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night,” he said.“My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at the Astroworld Festival.“Houston PD (Police Department) has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life.“I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need. Thank you to Houston PD, Fire Department and NRG Park for their immediate response and support.“Love you all.”Demand for explanation growsA police investigation has now launched with officials warning not to “buy into the rumours” sweeping social media. “Nothing is off the table in terms of persons who were there, people who fainted, people who were transported,” Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said Saturday.“As far as a crowd surge, all of those things are being looked at. It’s way too early to draw any conclusions.”But outraged spectators of the distressing footage emerging from Friday’s incident are demanding to know why action wasn’t taken sooner.“Why didn’t they call for an ambulance when this is what was happening?” one asked person on TikTok.“The show continued even though Travis and staff saw what was going on. This makes no sense,” another claimed. What is needle spiking? Needle spiking is the term given to a new drug “epidemic” that has been sweeping pubs, bars, nightclubs and now it seems live music events. It began in the UK where British police have reported receiving hundreds of reports of women being “spiked by needles” since the country reopened following months of lockdown. Many of the alleged attacks involve terrifying accounts of victims being pricked by a needle while at a bar or nightclub and quickly being left in “paralysed” states.— With Fox News
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