Psg champions league victory sparks widespread arrests across France
PSG claims historic Champions League title amid chaotic aftermath
Celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph turned violent in multiple French cities, resulting in hundreds of arrests and significant property damage.
This article is based on firsthand observations of the post-match events.
Tensions flared within minutes of the final whistle. On the Champs-Élysées, a group of young individuals targeted a bus shelter before clashing with police officers attempting to disperse them. Near Porte de Saint-Cloud, just steps from the Parc des Princes, officers came under fire from homemade mortar shells, prompting the deployment of tear gas and the first wave of arrests.
As night fell, the unrest escalated. Bicycle-sharing stations were set ablaze, while the Périphérique became a battleground—blocked by dozens of scooters, some driving against traffic, with pedestrians wandering among stationary vehicles. Tragedy struck when a 24-year-old motorcyclist collided with a concrete barrier erected to halt the chaos, resulting in his death.
By dawn, a 17-year-old had been stabbed multiple times and remained in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that 57 police officers and gendarmes were injured nationwide during the night’s operations.
Minister of Interior reports 780 arrests nationwide
On Sunday morning, the Minister of Interior detailed the extent of the damage: “We observed a significant increase in projectile attacks and mortar fire against security forces,” he stated. Video footage captured in the 8th arrondissement of Paris showed an individual firing volleys of mortars in rapid succession.
The violence wasn’t confined to the capital. More than a dozen cities, including Grenoble, witnessed looting and vandalism. Shops were ransacked, and according to official tallies, 780 individuals were detained nationwide, with 457 still in custody by daybreak.