Two dead and 192 injured, and 559 arrested after riots in the Champions League final
The celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain's historic victory in the UEFA Champions League turned into scenes of violence and bloody events in several French cities, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to nearly 200 others.
According to a preliminary statement issued by the French Ministry of the Interior, 559 people were arrested across the country, most of them in the capital, Paris. Twenty-two members of the security forces and seven firefighters were injured in these disturbances, and about 700 fires were recorded, including many vehicles that were set on fire.
In the city of Dax in southern France, a young man was killed after being stabbed while participating in a public gathering. No further details about the incident or the age of the victim have been revealed. The second death occurred in Paris, where a car ran over a fan who was riding a motorcycle, later revealed to be a man and not a woman as initially rumored.
In the city of Grenoble in the east of the country, a car struck a crowd of celebrants, and the police announced that the incident was accidental. Four people from one family were injured, two of them in critical condition.
In Paris, the Champs-Élysées and the area around Prinzenpark witnessed the worst riots as tens of thousands gathered to watch the match on large screens. Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez stated that thousands took advantage of the occasion to commit acts of looting and violence against the police, smashing shop windows and burning cars. The police used tear gas to control the situation after being attacked with fireworks.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described the attackers on platform X (formerly Twitter) as "barbarians" and praised the true fans who watched the final match between PSG and Inter Milan in Munich in a civilized manner. He later published a call from the Parisian club urging fans to adhere to peaceful behavior. The celebratory parade for the team's stars on the Champs-Élysées is expected to be a new test for security forces, as more than 100,000 fans are expected to gather.
Paris Saint-Germain achieved a crushing victory over Inter Milan with a score of 5-0 in the final match held in Munich, securing their first title in the Champions League. After the match, French fans stormed the pitch in celebration, causing damage to the grass, while celebrations in the streets of the Bavarian city remained largely peaceful. German police confirmed the temporary arrest of 15 individuals for offenses such as theft and unlawful entry, and 64 reports were filed for charges including physical assaults and the use of prohibited fireworks.