A French TikTok influencer known as “Amin Mojito” has been sentenced to six months in jail for conducting what he called “prank” videos involving fake syringe attacks on unsuspecting members of the public.
According to sources, the incident occurred in late June when Amin uploaded a video to TikTok showing him approaching random strangers on the street and appearing to inject them with a syringe before running away. The footage shows victims reacting with fear, with one person asking “What the f*** are you doing?” as the perpetrator fled the scene.
What makes this case particularly troubling is the timing and context surrounding the video’s release. Amin uploaded his content on June 20th, just one day before a music festival in France where 145 people reported being pricked by needles from strangers. This incident was part of a disturbing trend that has been plaguing France, where needle-pricking attacks on women in public spaces have become increasingly common.
The timing has led prosecutors to argue that Amin’s viral video may have contributed to the dangerous atmosphere at the music festival, potentially inspiring copycat attacks. While it remains unclear whether the syringe in his video was capped and unable to cause physical harm, the psychological impact on his victims was undeniable.
During his court appearance, Amin attempted to defend his actions, stating: “I had the very bad idea of doing these pranks by imitating what I saw on the internet in Spain and Portugal. I didn’t think it could hurt people. That was my mistake. I didn’t think about others. I thought about myself.”
However, critics have dismissed this explanation as disingenuous, arguing that anyone conducting such “pranks” would clearly understand the distress they would cause. The very nature of the content relies on victims believing they may have been injected with an unknown substance, potentially putting their health and lives at risk.
In addition to the six-month jail sentence, Amin was fined €1,500 and banned from owning or carrying weapons for three years. He has been in custody since his arrest in late June.