Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured their first UEFA Champions League title emphatically, delivering a record-breaking 5-0 victory over Inter Milan.
Abdullahi Abubakar I
However, celebrations turned deadly across France following the historic victory, with two people killed and more than 500 arrested in widespread unrest.
According to authorities, violence erupted in multiple cities late on Saturday, with fireworks, flares, and scenes of vandalism breaking out as PSG fans took to the streets in jubilation.
In the southwestern town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the chest, local media reported.
Meanwhile, in central Paris, a 23-year-old man riding a scooter was struck and killed by a vehicle, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed.
Authorities reported 559 arrests nationwide, including 491 in the capital alone. At least 192 people were injured in the overnight violence, including 22 police officers and seven firefighters. Vandals set fire to 264 vehicles and damaged public infrastructure, including smashed bus shelters.
Despite the unrest, Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, confirmed that PSG’s official victory parade would proceed as planned on Sunday evening, albeit under tight security.
“This is just half-time for us,” Nuñez said, noting that the team would appear at the Parc des Princes stadium to celebrate with fans.
“We will respond strongly against any vandals or looters. The parade is for true supporters who want to celebrate safely,” Nunez declared.
Nuñez emphasized that many involved in the violence were not genuine fans but opportunists who “didn’t even watch the match” and were only there to cause damage. He called for a clear distinction between passionate supporters and criminal elements.
Elsewhere, in Paris’ Place des Ternes district, several shops were looted, including a Foot Locker store near the Champs-Élysées. About 30 people were arrested at the scene, the prosecutor’s office said.
In response to the fatal stabbing in Dax, local mayor Julien Dubois expressed his condolences, calling for swift justice. “We are floored by all the drama tonight,” he posted on social media. “It is crucial to shed light on these tragic events and punish those responsible.”
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