French authorities say police have detained hundreds of people following violence that disrupted celebrations late Saturday of Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) second Champions League title win, and a group tried to storm a police station in the French capital.
The arrests come after thousands of fans poured onto the streets and began celebrating across the country after the final whistle earlier in the evening in Budapest, Hungary, where the top French side PSG won by beating Arsenal on penalties in a dramatic final.
According to the French interior ministry, some 416 persons were arrested nationally, including 283 in the French capital, Paris, home to the champions PSG alone.
in Paris, fans marched along the avenues near the Arc de Triomphe, with some setting off flares and blaring car horns. Around 20,000 people gathered on the Champs-Elysees, with police working to contain the crowd.
According to the Paris police prefecture, smaller groups caused disruptions in a number of places, with some of them lighting fires and vandalising stores. They also set cars on fire.
One police officer was injured. Those who attempted to storm a police station in the posh 8th Arrondissement neighbourhood were dispersed, police said, adding that by 10 p.m., 45 people were taken into custody.
The main ring road surrounding Paris was briefly blockaded by a crowd before police dispersed it. Police also said one bakery and a restaurant were damaged.
Police officers said they also contained about 1,000 people gathered near the PSG stadium in the 16th Arrondissement and cleared barricades made from bicycles.
This year's violence follows that of May last year when Paris was on high alert with 8,000 police officers stationed throughout the city as PSG made its long-awaited first triumph in the Champions League.
Some 201 people were injured in the French capital and police made over 500 arrests nationwide.
Curated by Fatima Al-Hassan
