Riots break out in Paris within minutes of Champions League final kicking off as thousands of French police officers brace for night of chaos
Chaos erupted in Paris last night amid a merging of celebration and violence as thousands of PSG fans clashed with police following the team's Champions League final victory over Arsenal. Arsenal had been hoping to secure their second trophy of the season after winning the Premier League last week, but it was PSG who were crowned European champions for the second year in a row.Streams of flares and fireworks were let off on Saturday evening in the vicinity of the Eiffel Tower, which was illuminated in the colours of the winning French team.But footage circulating on social media also showed fireworks exploding in busy streets in the capital city, causing scores of bystanders to scream and flee for their safety.Riot police were seen earlier on Saturday clashing with fans in ugly scenes after Arsenal star Kai Havertz thundered a strike into the roof of the net to put the Gunners 1-0 up inside six minutes.But violence turned to jubilation in the second half after PSG star Ousmane Dembele equalised with a coolly taken penalty in the 66th minute.Both sides were locked in a tense extra time battle to take home the Champions League title, but it was PSG who held their nerve to retain the coveted trophy.Around 5,000 police and gendarmes were deployed in Paris to police crowds who were watching the final.By the end of the game, 39 arrests had been made, with some 1,600 people stopped and searched by the police. French officers used tear gas and baton charges against crowds in Paris who had gathered to watch the game on TV screens outside bars and cafés in sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon. Flares and fireworks were seen close to the Eiffel Tower, which was illuminated in the colours of Paris Saint-Germain following their win over Arsenal A car set alight close to the Eiffel Tower in dramatic scenes in Paris on Saturday evening Paris burns: A man waves a Paris Saint-Germain flag as a barricade is set aflame in the 16th arrondissement of Paris A fan stands ready with a flare after PSG took home the coveted Champions League cup A PSG supporter runs through the streets of the French capital holding a flare A PSG supporter is seen shooting off a firework on Avenue Foch, close to the Eiffel Tower Footage circulating on social media showed fireworks exploding in busy streets in the capital city, causing scores of bystanders to scream and flee for their safety Police officers are seen trying to disperse PSG supporters who let off fireworks in the streets Officers run through the streets as Paris St Germain fans let off flares There has been a substantial police presence throughout Saturday to quell the chaosWeapons and fireworks were among the items confiscated by officers. 'The trouble started as soon as Arsenal went one-nil up,' said an onlooker. 'Chairs and bottles were thrown at the police, who then moved in to make arrests.'Some Paris St Germain fans managed to climb up scaffolding on a building close to the Rue de Rivoli – one of the main shopping streets in the French capital.The unrest continued into the night with all buses in Paris stopped due to the large number of people gathering on the streets.And in dramatic scenes outside the Eiffel Tower, multiple vehicles were set alight. Meanwhile, outside the Emirates, hundreds of Arsenal fans reacted jubilantly to Havertz's goal by setting off red flares. But there were far more somber scenes outside the homeground after the game as many emotional supporters shed a tear. In Paris, there were further skirmishes throughout the first half of the game, as some cafés turned off their televisions. Thousands of PSG fans gathered in the French capital waving flags and holding flares Fans climbed up and around a statue in the Trocadero Gardens with flares Officers watched on as a car burned and fireworks exploded close to the Eiffel Tower Riot police remained on standby with celebrations expected to go late into the night in Paris Flares and flags: Thousands have spilled out onto the streets of Paris to celebrate PSG's win PSG supporters celebrated with flares outside the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris PSG fans saw themselves caught up in tear gas deployed by police officers PSG supporters gathered around a car that was set ablaze as they celebrated their team's win in the UEFA Champions League final In dramatic scenes, PSG supporters were arrested by police in full riot gear Riot police were seen grabbing hold of a PSG fan in Paris Chaotic scenes in Paris as tear gas was fired and French police detained a man The word 'champion' was projected onto the iconic landmark in the French capital Huge crowds of PSG supporters walked along the Champs Elysees as a flare lit up the Parisian night sky Riots broke out in the French capital just minutes after Arsenal took the lead against PSG in the Champions League Riot police in Paris arrested a topless PSG fan Firefighters in Paris were seen working to put out flares set off by PSG fans PSG fans pass a car set alight as widespread disruption in the French capital goes into the night Hundreds of tourists visiting nearby monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum also found themselves caught up in the trouble.Firefighters in Paris were seen working to put out flares set off by PSG fans.Le Parisien reported that crowds surged after Ousmane Dembele scored his equalizer leading to another show of force from the French police.Meanwhile other arrests have been made close to the Champs Élysées after a bus stop was vandalised during a clash between supporters and police. In Montmartre fans wearing balaclavas and armed with iron bars have also been spotted. There were some 5,000 police and gendarmes on the streets of Paris on Saturday to police crowds gathering to watch the Budapest final. Football violence is becoming an increasing problem across France. PSG supporters run from the teargas fired by French police during the UEFA Champions League final Riot police with shields close to Parc des Princes in Paris A large crowd of PSG fans walking in the street in Paris Jubilant Arsenal fans reacted to the earlier goal from Havertz outside the Emirates Somber scenes outside the Emirates following Arsenal's defeat in the Champions League final PSG celebrate their Champions League victory after winning the coveted trophy for the second year in a row Some 43 people were arrested when Paris St Germain beat Arsenal to reach the European Champions League football final a year ago.Rioting broke out in Paris, and in other parts of France, as hooded youths fought running battles with riot police.The worst incident took place close to the Champs Elysées when a car ploughed into a group of fans.While many Paris fans have travelled to Hungary this year, tens of thousands more remained on the streets of the French capital.As a precaution, France's most famous avenue has been cordoned at its upper end this year leaving fans who travelled to the centre of Paris to watch the game on their phones.
