Paris, May 31: Following the celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) victory in the UEFA Champions League, violence erupted across France. Reports from French media indicate that local police detained over 280 individuals in Paris alone. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, more than 780 people were arrested nationwide.
U.S. media outlet NBC News reported that Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that 57 officers were injured, most with minor injuries. Football fans set fire to shops and vandalized property. A small group even attempted to attack a police station in Paris.
During a news conference on Sunday, Nunez remarked that “the situation is largely under control.” He noted that most celebrations in the capital were peaceful, with incidents primarily occurring in the Champs-Élysées area and near the Parc des Princes stadium, where fans gathered to watch the match.
The police intervened five times on Saturday night to prevent traffic jams on the main ring road around Paris. Nunez mentioned that incidents were reported in about 15 cities across France, with 480 arrests made in the Paris area alone.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced that 277 individuals have been formally placed in police custody, including 82 minors. Most face charges of assaulting police officers, while others are accused of theft, vandalism, and disturbing public order.
Nunez also reported a serious accident where a driver lost control of their car, crashing into a restaurant terrace, injuring two people, one of whom is in serious condition.
Local preparations were underway for a celebration at Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday afternoon. However, following the outbreak of violence, there were doubts about whether the celebration would proceed. Nunez confirmed that the planned celebration would go ahead, warning that police would respond firmly to any potential violence.
After the ceremony, President Emmanuel Macron will host the PSG team at the Élysée Presidential Palace. France has deployed 22,000 police officers to maintain law and order in the capital. Last year, after PSG’s first Champions League victory over Inter Milan, two people died, and nearly 200 were injured.
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