France witnessed a night of violent unrest following Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League victory, with two people reported dead, hundreds injured, and widespread arrests across the country.

According to the French Interior Ministry, the unrest, largely concentrated in Paris, erupted after PSG’s win in the European final — their first-ever Champions League title.

The ministry confirmed that 559 people were arrested nationwide, with 491 of those in the capital. At least 192 civilians were injured, along with 22 police officers and seven firefighters. Authorities also reported that 264 vehicles were torched during the celebrations.

Among the fatalities was a 17-year-old boy in the south-western town of Dax, who was fatally stabbed.

In a separate incident, a 23-year-old man riding a scooter in central Paris was struck and killed by a vehicle. While investigations are ongoing, officials believe the latter incident may be linked to the chaotic post-match scenes.

In Paris, celebrations spiralled out of control along the Champs Elysées, where flares and fireworks lit up the sky while rioters vandalised property, looted stores, and set cars ablaze.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez confirmed that at least four shops were looted, including a prominent sports shoe outlet.

During a press briefing, expressed disappointment over the violence, stating, “We must not confuse true PSG fans with those who came simply to cause destruction. Many of these individuals didn’t even watch the match.”

He added that among those arrested inside the looted shoe store were around 30 people.

Police were forced to deploy water cannons and tear gas as clashes intensified through the night. Officers were targeted with fireworks and other projectiles, prompting a robust response to restore order.

Nuñez said authorities would not tolerate such lawlessness.

“This kind of abuse is unacceptable, and we will always deliver a firm response,” he said.

He also emphasised that Saturday night’s events were not the end of their operation, noting that the PSG victory parade scheduled later on the Champs Elysées would see a heightened police and military presence.

The police chief also highlighted the bravery of firefighters who came under attack while attempting to extinguish vehicle fires, commending them for their courage and resilience.

While he acknowledged that the scale of violence was less than in previous incidents of public disorder, Nuñez stressed that it remained serious and damaging.

“These are not celebrations — these are deliberate assaults on public safety and civil order,” he said.