PARIS – According to French authorities, tragic incidents marred the celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s historic win of the Champions League, the most prestigious prize in European soccer, with two fans losing their lives and a police officer left in a coma.
A 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in Dax during festivities related to PSG’s victory in Munich, as reported by the national police service. In a separate incident in Paris, a man lost his life after his scooter was struck by a car amidst the jubilant PSG celebrations, as stated by the interior minister’s office. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding both tragedies.
Another unfortunate event occurred in Coutance, northwest France, where a police officer was accidentally struck by fireworks, resulting in serious eye injuries that have led to the officer being placed in an induced coma for medical treatment, according to the national police service.
Hundreds of people were arrested in the celebrations, which were largely peaceful but degenerated into violence in some areas.
The team is expected to return to a big parade on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday after clinching its first Champions League title, a 5-0 win over Inter Milan.
At the top of the Champs-Élysées avenue, a water cannon was used to protect the Place de l’Étoile, near the landmark Arc de Triomphe. Police said a large crowd not watching the match tried to push through a barrier to make contact with police.
By 2 a.m. Sunday, a total of 294 arrests had been made, including 30 people who broke into a shoe shop on the Champs-Élysées. Two cars were set alight close to Parc des Princes, police added.
At the Place de la Bastille, there were joyous scenes as fans climbed onto the base of the famous column, singing, dancing and letting off flares, while those around joined in.
At one point, motorbikes loudly revved their engines and the crowd cheered as they did laps around the column. There were no police nearby and, by 1 a.m., the atmosphere was upbeat with no tensions and plenty of singing.
Security had been tightened up in anticipation of potential post-match violence and 5,400 police officers were deployed on the Champs-Élysées, other key parts of Paris, and its nearby suburbs.
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