Paris turned into a powder keg the moment PSG sealed their historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
The final whistle in Munich set off a chain reaction back home. What started as a sea of jubilation morphed into a night of chaos. Streets erupted, flares blazed, fireworks tore through the sky, and the city’s usual elegance faded behind clouds of smoke.
Thousands packed the streets, mostly young fans in PSG shirts, spilling from the Parc des Princes into central Paris. Celebration was the mood at first- fireworks lit the Eiffel Tower’s reflection on the Seine, car horns sang in unison, and fans danced at Place de la République. But as the night wore on, things spun out of control.
Celebration Slips Into Chaos
Tensions climbed as crowds pushed past police barricades. At Porte d’Auteuil, supporters jumped on cars and lit flares in the middle of traffic. Red smoke poured through the air. Drivers slammed brakes while pedestrians scrambled. One truck tried to break through the crowd, only to have dozens of fans climb onto its rear.
Police struggled to regain control. Firework launchers, smoke bombs, and shattered glass filled the streets near the Champs-Élysées. Riot squads fired tear gas and used water cannons to block crowds from reaching the Arc de Triomphe. The Paris police said they detained over 300 people for disorder and fireworks possession. In total, 559 arrests took place across France, according to the French interior ministry.
Paris is hell. pic.twitter.com/A55aUbodo9
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Two people died in separate incidents. A 17-year-old was stabbed in Dax, while a 23-year-old on a scooter died after being struck by a vehicle in central Paris. A car hit a family of PSG supporters in Grenoble, leaving four injured, police confirmed.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez acknowledged the chaos, saying, “This is just half time for us,” ahead of the trophy parade. He promised a stronger police presence and warned vandals of swift response. “We will not tolerate any abuse today,” he said.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the violence. “True PSG supporters are enjoying their team’s magnificent match. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris,” he posted on social media.
Amid the disorder, many fans still celebrated peacefully. But the mess left behind- burned cars, looted shops, and a shaken city- told a different story.
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