Celebrations following Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) triumph in the Champions League final were overshadowed by significant unrest across France, leading to 780 arrests nationwide. Of these, 457 individuals were taken into police custody. This figure marks a substantial 32% increase compared to 2025, when 592 people were apprehended, with 491 in Paris alone, after the club’s initial Champions League victory. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, addressing the press around 1:30 AM on Sunday, confirmed these numbers, noting that 416 arrests, including 283 within the Paris metropolitan area, were made. He unequivocally condemned the events, stating, “These excesses are absolutely unacceptable.” The night’s disturbances also resulted in 57 police and gendarmerie officers sustaining injuries.
Beyond the arrests, the night saw a series of grave incidents. A fatal motocross accident occurred on the Paris périphérique between Saturday night and Sunday morning, coinciding with the PSG victory celebrations. According to Paris prosecutors, the driver, born in 2002, collided head-on with concrete barriers near an exit ramp towards Porte Maillot. Additionally, a stabbing in the capital left one individual in critical condition, fighting for their life.
pedestrians injured in hit-and-run
Minister Nuñez acknowledged that while the festive gatherings were anticipated, they were unfortunately “marred by a number of excesses, which corresponds to the situation we had predicted and thus prepared for.” In a separate incident, a driver in Paris struck two pedestrians on Saturday evening before fleeing the scene. Witnesses reported that the individual “lost control of their vehicle, crashing into a terrace.” The Interior Minister confirmed that, to his knowledge, the life of the most seriously injured person is not in danger.
The prefecture meticulously orchestrated a substantial security operation for the Champions League final, recognizing the potential for concurrent major events in the capital. These included a rugby match, the ongoing Roland-Garros tennis tournament, and several high-profile concerts, such as Aya Nakamura at the Stade de France and rapper Damso at the Paris La Défense Arena. With an unprecedented deployment of 22,000 police and gendarmerie officers, including 8,000 specifically for Paris and its wider metropolitan area, authorities had prepared for an extraordinary level of security.
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