French authorities have arrested nearly 900 people followin6g widespread unrest that erupted after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a second consecutive UEFA Champions League title over the weekend.
Gatekeepers News reports that Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday that law enforcement agencies made more than 890 arrests during the disturbances, which broke out in Paris and several other cities across France.
“We’ve had more than 890 arrests. In total, that’s 45 percent more than last year,” Nunez told France Inter.
He added that almost 180 members of the security forces were injured while responding to the violence.
What began as celebrations of PSG’s latest European triumph quickly descended into chaos in some areas, with clashes reported between youths and police. Authorities also recorded incidents of vandalism, looting and arson, including vehicles being set ablaze and shops targeted by rioters.
On Sunday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the victorious PSG squad to the Élysée Palace, where he praised the club’s achievement while strongly condemning the violence that accompanied the celebrations.
Macron described PSG’s success as “an immense pride” for France but said the scenes of disorder were unacceptable.
“Enough. We are fed up,” the president declared.
“This is not football, this is not sport, this is not what we love,” he added.
The unrest also resulted in fatalities and injuries. Authorities reported that one man died while riding his motorcycle around the Paris ring road during the celebrations. Several other violent incidents, including stabbings and attacks, were also recorded.
The disturbances have renewed concerns about public safety during major sporting celebrations, despite the widespread excitement surrounding PSG’s historic achievement on the European stage.
French authorities are continuing investigations into the incidents and assessing the full extent of the damage caused during the weekend unrest.
