Police Arrest Hundreds Following Violent Clashes After PSG Victory

French police detained 780 individuals linked to violent incidents in Paris and other cities following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 57 officers sustained injuries, mostly minor, as football enthusiasts ignited fires and vandalized businesses. A small faction also attempted to breach a Paris police station.

Nuñez noted in a press conference that “the situation has been largely brought under control.” He stated, “Most of the celebrations took place peacefully” across Paris, though significant disturbances occurred near Champs Élysées and Parc des Princes stadium, where supporters congregated to view the match.

Authorities intervened in five instances overnight to prevent traffic blockades on Paris’s main ring road. Incidents erupted in about 15 French cities, Nuñez mentioned, with “one to two” shops vandalized per city, excluding Paris. Out of all arrests, 780 people were taken into custody, with 480 detained in Paris alone.

The Paris prosecutors’ office confirmed 277 individuals, including 82 minors, were formally placed in police custody. Allegations include assault on officers, theft, vandalism, and disturbing public peace. A severe accident involved a driver losing control and crashing into a restaurant’s terrace, injuring two people, one critically.

Nuñez announced Sunday’s celebratory events at Champ de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower, would proceed as scheduled. He emphasized police readiness to address any further violence “with firmness and determination.” Following the celebrations, PSG will visit French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential palace.

Fans commenced celebrations in Paris after the final whistle from Budapest, Hungary, where PSG defeated Arsenal on penalties in a tense finale. Marching through avenues near the Arc de Triomphe, some set off flares and honked car horns. Approximately 20,000 people assembled on Champs-Elysées, prompting police efforts to manage the crowd.

The Paris police prefecture reported smaller groups causing disturbances, with vandalism and fires set to garbage, bicycles, and cars. An attempt to storm a police station in the upscale 8th Arrondissement was thwarted by police forces. In a similar scenario last May, following PSG’s inaugural title, 201 injuries were recorded in Paris, accompanied by over 500 arrests nationwide.

Source: AP Soccer