Hundreds arrested in Paris clashes after PSG Champions League win

Numerous individuals have been detained in Paris after confrontations with law enforcement, as fans of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) celebrated their team’s triumph in the Champions League final.

Police detained close to 300 individuals following confrontations that erupted near Champs-Elysees avenue and PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, where around 50,000 fans had viewed the 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich on large screens.

Flares and fireworks were ignited, bus shelters were damaged, and cars were set ablaze during the fervent festivities.

The turmoil erupted following PSG’s historic victory in securing the top accolade in European club football. Most supporters celebrated without incidents, with many singing and dancing on the streets or honking their car horns.

The Eiffel Tower was illuminated with PSG’s blue and red colours, and French President Emmanuel Macron, a keen supporter of Olympique de Marseille, posted on X: “A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.”

Approximately 5,400 police were deployed across Paris in anticipation of the raucous celebrations.

Most of the almost 300 people detained were suspected of possessing fireworks and causing disorder, Paris police said.

“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 a statement.

Videos posted on social media, not verified by the BBC, seemed to depict crowds trying to invade multiple stores on the Champs-Elysées, such as Chanel and Foot Locker. It is reported that riot police deployed a water cannon to prevent a crowd from advancing towards the Arc de Triomphe and discharged tear gas into the masses. Additional confrontations between law enforcement and groups took place on the Paris beltway. Two or more cars were set ablaze close to PSG’s Parc des Princes arena.

Meanwhile, outside Paris, police said a car ploughed into PSG fans in Grenoble in south eastern France, leaving four people injured .All those hurt were from the same family, police said. Two were seriously injured.

The driver handed himself into the police and was placed under arrest. A source close to the investigation told the AFP news agency it was believed the driver had not acted intentionally. The PSG team will hold a victory parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday when tens of thousands of supporters are expected to gather to get a glimpse of their returning team. Macron’s office said he would host the victorious players on Sunday to congratulate them.