France detains over 400 as PSG Champions League celebrations erupt into riots across 15 cities

Victory turns to violence

Paris Saint-Germain secured its second consecutive Champions League title on Saturday night in Budapest, defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The historic win made PSG only the latest club to successfully defend the European crown, with captain Marquinhos calling the achievement "even more beautiful and more difficult than the first." But as fans poured into streets across France, celebrations quickly gave way to chaos.

Mass detentions and injuries

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that 416 people were detained nationwide, including 283 in the Paris metropolitan area. Seven police officers were injured, one seriously. The violence was concentrated around the Champs-Élysées, where an estimated 20,000 people gathered, and near the Parc des Princes stadium, where around 150 supporters attempted to storm the venue. Masked individuals threw projectiles at riot police, who responded with tear gas.

These disturbances are absolutely unacceptable.

A car rams a restaurant terrace

In one of the most serious incidents, a vehicle fleeing after firing firework mortars at police crashed into the terrace of Le Verre Taquin, a bar in the 10th arrondissement, around 11:15 p.m. Two people were injured, one seriously, though authorities said the victim's life was not in danger. Eight people were arrested in connection with that incident. A witness described seeing a Kangoo vehicle "speed up and unfortunately mow down two people."

Calls for a ban on gatherings

The mayor of Paris's 8th arrondissement, home to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, said the situation resembled "urban guerrilla warfare" and called for a ban on future gatherings on the famous avenue. "The state must recognize that it is incapable of controlling these crowds and ban these gatherings before there are fatalities in our streets," the mayor said. Shops along the Champs-Élysées had been closed as a precaution, but a kiosk was still set on fire.

The state must recognize that it is not able to control these flows of people, and ban these gatherings before there are fatalities in our streets.

A massive police deployment

Authorities had mobilized 22,000 police officers and gendarmes across France, including 8,000 in Paris alone, anticipating trouble after last year's celebrations left two people dead, nearly 200 injured, and 559 detained. Despite the precautions, cars were torched, shops vandalized, and fires set in multiple locations. In Grenoble, mortar fire was reported and at least two sportswear shops had their windows smashed. Disturbances and looting were also reported in Angers.

Planned celebrations proceed

Despite the overnight violence, Interior Minister Nuñez said the official victory parade scheduled for Sunday afternoon on the Champs-Élysées would go ahead as planned, with up to 100,000 people expected. The PSG team will later be received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller criticized Macron on social media, commenting on footage of the Paris unrest: "Mr. Macron is busy planning another war."