Celebrations in Paris following Paris Saint-Germain’s progression to the UEFA Champions League final descended into violence overnight, with police arresting 127 people across the metropolitan area and 11 others injured.
The unrest erupted after PSG secured their place in the May 30 final against Arsenal with a 6-5 aggregate win over Bayern Munich. Thousands of fans took to the streets, but the festivities were marred by clashes between groups of supporters and security forces. Bins were set alight and flaming debris was hurled at officers, while one person was seriously injured after a mortar was launched.
Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nunez confirmed that 107 of the arrests were made within Paris itself, with the remaining 20 in surrounding areas. “The outcome was 127 arrests in the Paris metropolitan area, including 107 in Paris itself,” he said. “And 11 people were injured, one seriously after using a mortar, and among the police officers, 23 sustained minor injuries.”
Nunez condemned the disorder, saying such incidents had become “commonplace on nights when PSG wins.” He added, “I strongly condemn these excesses which sadly become commonplace on nights when PSG wins. We don’t get used to this. I condemn this extremely strongly. You always have hundreds of people creating these disturbances at the end of the festivities and even during them.” He noted that while there was an attempted looting of shops, it was prevented by officers.
Authorities had closed the Champs-Élysées, the traditional gathering point for football celebrations, but large crowds still assembled in other parts of the city. A police spokesperson in northern Paris said some demonstrators had attempted to block the ring road but were stopped.
The UEFA Champions League final is scheduled for May 30 at the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary. Nunez warned that there is a risk of further disturbances on the night and pledged a similar response. “There will be the same firm response as last night,” he said.
