Violence erupts after PSG wins Champions League title in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain Advances to Champions League Final Amid Ongoing Domestic Tensions

Paris Saint-Germain secured a 6-5 victory over Bayern Munich in their Champions League semifinal match, advancing to the final for the second consecutive year and third time since 2020. The win was marred by widespread violence and clashes between fans and police.

According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, nearly 130 people were arrested in the Paris metropolitan area overnight, with 127 individuals taken into custody, including 107 in Paris. Eleven rioters sustained injuries, including one serious injury caused by a mortar, while 23 police officers suffered light injuries.

The clashes occurred outside PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium and on the Champs-Elysees, where police dispersed groups and prevented the Paris ring road from being blocked by rioters. Nunez condemned the violence, stating that “hundreds of individuals” were responsible for the excesses during the festivities.

Nunez also praised the police prefect and his teams for their efforts in maintaining order, preventing property damage, and looting. He announced plans to increase security measures for the May 30 final against Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary.

The Interior Minister expressed concerns about the recent creation of a fan zone in Paris without consulting the police beforehand, stating that “we need to see where this fan zone will be organized.” This incident is not an isolated one, as similar clashes have occurred in Paris and elsewhere in France in recent years.

Source: Al Jazeera