Car burns as PSG supporters celebrate in Paris (AP Photo)
Celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League triumph descended into chaos across France, leaving one person dead, 219 injured and nearly 800 people arrested, authorities said on Sunday.French interior minister Laurent Nunez said 219 people were injured during clashes between football fans and police after PSG defeated Arsenal in the Champions League final. Of those injured, eight were reported to be in serious condition, while 57 police officers also sustained injuries.A person died in a road accident on Paris’s ring road during the unrest after rioters allegedly attempted to block traffic, officials said, according to AFP.Nunez said 780 people were arrested nationwide, with more than 450 remaining in custody. The Paris prosecutors’ office later said 277 people had been formally placed in police custody, including 82 minors, on allegations ranging from assaulting police officers to theft, vandalism and disturbing public order.”The situation has been largely brought under control,” Nunez told reporters.”Most of the celebrations took place peacefully” across Paris, he said, adding that most incidents were concentrated around the Champs-Elysees and near Parc des Princes stadium, where thousands had gathered to watch the match.
Fires, vandalism and clashes
Fans flooded the streets after PSG secured victory in the final in Budapest, Hungary. Large crowds gathered around the Arc de Triomphe and along the Champs-Elysees, setting off flares and celebrating with car horns.However, celebrations soon turned violent in several areas. Police said smaller groups vandalised shops, set fire to rubbish bins, self-service bicycles and vehicles, and attempted to block roads. Authorities also dispersed individuals who allegedly tried to storm a police station in Paris’s 8th arrondissement.A separate incident left two people injured after a driver lost control of a vehicle and crashed into a restaurant terrace. One person was seriously hurt.Authorities reported disturbances in around 15 cities across France, with one or two shops vandalised in several locations outside Paris.
Massive security deployment
Despite the unrest, authorities confirmed that PSG’s victory parade and celebrations would continue on Sunday. Around 6,000 police officers were mobilised for security arrangements near the Eiffel Tower, where supporters were expected to gather for the team’s official celebrations.Nunez warned that police would respond with “firmness and determination” to any further violence. The PSG squad is also scheduled to be received by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.The violence follows similar scenes after PSG’s previous title celebrations. In May last year, 201 people were injured in Paris and more than 500 arrests were made across France following the club’s European success.
