Paris Unrest: PSG Win Sparks Violence & Arrests
PSG Champions League Victory Overshadowed by Violence, Mass Arrests
Celebrations in Paris following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League victory over Inter Milan devolved into chaos, resulting in hundreds of arrests and two fatalities. The Champions League trophy, secured with a dominant 5-0 win in Munich, was quickly forgotten as PSG celebrations turned sour.
According to the Ministry of the Interior,police arrested 491 people in Paris alone. The Champs-Elysees became a focal point of clashes between fans and law enforcement. Nationwide, the arrest total reached 559. A man riding a scooter in Paris died after being struck by a car. In Dax, a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed, though authorities are still investigating whether the incident was connected to the victory celebrations.
Police used water cannons to disperse crowds attempting to reach the Arc de Triomphe, according to AFP journalists.”Troublemakers on the Champs-Elysees were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects,” police said.
In Grenoble, a car drove into a crowd of fans, injuring four members of the same family; two seriously. The driver is in custody.
While many PSG fans celebrated peacefully, police reported clashes near the champs-Elysees and PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, where 48,000 spectators watched the historic win.
What’s next
Investigations continue into the deaths and violence surrounding the PSG victory celebrations. Authorities are expected to release further details as they become available.