Paris rocked by post-psg victory unrest, nearly 300 arrested
Ligue des champions : débordements dans Paris et près de 300 interpellations suite à la victoire du PSG
Nearly 300 individuals were taken into custody across Paris following significant disturbances and confrontations with law enforcement that overshadowed the PSG’s Champions League triumph on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez addressed the press around 1:30 AM on Sunday, confirming that celebratory gatherings had been marred by various incidents of disorder. He stated, “There were festive demonstrations that were punctuated by a number of excesses, which corresponds to the situation we had anticipated.” The minister reported a total of 416 arrests nationwide, with 283 specifically within the Paris metropolitan area.
Nuñez unequivocally condemned the events, emphasizing that “these excesses are absolutely unacceptable.”
The head of the Interior Ministry also noted that seven police officers sustained injuries, with one officer in Agen suffering a severe head trauma. Disturbances were recorded in approximately fifteen cities across the country, including incidents of looting in Rennes, Strasbourg, Clermont-Ferrand, and Grenoble.
In Reims, Mayor Arnaud Robinet shared a brief update on Facebook, mentioning “a few arrests” in his city.
Earlier, the Paris Police Prefecture (PP) confirmed the seizure of 24 flares and approximately one hundred mortar fireworks. Authorities also reported damage to six vehicles and two commercial establishments – a bakery and a restaurant located near Porte de Saint-Cloud. Further south, I observed continuous fireworks displays and young individuals climbing onto a fire truck.
Minister Nuñez further detailed that “four attempts to block the périphérique were met with extremely swift interventions by law enforcement, who systematically cleared the situation.”
Projectiles were also directed at police officers near the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, where between 4,000 and 5,000 people had gathered during the match. Thousands more converged on the avenue following the final whistle, according to the Police Prefecture.
In the 8th arrondissement, individuals attempted to assault a police station before being dispersed by officers.
A police source indicated that one person sustained a knife wound in Barbès, while an intoxicated man fell into the Seine in the 5th arrondissement.
At the Parc des Princes, approximately 150 individuals “attempted to breach an entrance gate” of the stadium. A rapid police maneuver successfully repelled them, restoring calm “moments later.”
Subsequently, near Porte de Saint-Cloud, in the vicinity of the Parc, clashes erupted between police and supporters. Fireworks mortars were launched at law enforcement, who responded with tear gas.
The prefecture affirmed its meticulous preparation of the security arrangements for the Champions League final, alongside other concurrent events in the capital, including a rugby match, the ongoing Roland-Garros tennis tournament, and several concerts, such as Aya Nakamura at the Stade de France and rapper Damso at the Paris La Défense Arena.
Transport services halted
With an unprecedented deployment of 22,000 police and gendarmes, including 8,000 assigned to Paris and its surrounding areas, authorities had implemented an extraordinary security apparatus.
The Police Prefecture had previously stated, “Our responsibility is to guarantee a popular, serene, and fully secure celebration for everyone,” reiterating its directives for “reactivity, commitment, and firmness.”
Numerous public transport services were suspended. IDF Mobilité announced on its X account that “due to the very large gatherings, the network is heavily impacted with many lines halted to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers.”
Last year, 5,400 police and gendarmes were deployed in Paris and its agglomeration, leading to a total of 563 arrests (491 in Paris) and 307 detentions (202 in Paris).
The players are scheduled to participate in a parade on Sunday afternoon at the Champs-de-Mars (15th arrondissement), where nearly 100,000 people are expected, before being received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace.