French police detained dozens of people after scattered violence broke out during massive celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s second UEFA Champions League title on Saturday night, with authorities also reporting a brazen attempt by a group to storm a police station in the French capital.

Thousands of jubilant PSG supporters poured onto the streets of Paris immediately after the club defeated English side Arsenal in a dramatic penalty shootout during the Champions League final played in Budapest, Hungary.

Large crowds initially gathered around the iconic Arc de Triomphe and along the famous Champs-Élysées, where fans celebrated the historic victory by waving club flags, setting off bright flares, and loudly sounding car horns.

According to Paris police, approximately 20,000 people massed on the Champs-Élysées as law enforcement officers worked to maintain public order.

However, authorities noted that several smaller groups intentionally caused disturbances in different parts of the city.

Some individuals vandalized local shops, started street fires, and set multiple vehicles ablaze, leaving at least one police officer injured during the subsequent unrest.

Law enforcement officials also reported that an aggressive group attempted to force its way into a local police station located in Paris's 8th arrondissement, though officers moved quickly to disperse them before they could breach the building.

By 10 pm local time, at least 45 people had been taken into custody, according to figures released by the Paris police prefecture.

The city's main ring road was also briefly blocked by an influx of crowds before police successfully cleared the thoroughfare.

Authorities further reported property damage to several commercial establishments, including a local bakery and a restaurant.

Meanwhile, near PSG's home ground in Paris's 16th arrondissement, police managed a separate crowd of about 1,000 people and actively dismantled makeshift barricades that fans had constructed out of bicycles.

Security measures had already been heavily reinforced across Paris ahead of Saturday's match, with authorities remaining on high alert following the club's first Champions League triumph last year, an event that saw more than 200 people injured in Paris and over 500 arrests made across France.

This year's celebrations again drew massive, passionate crowds, though police forces deployed rapidly to contain the localized disturbances as supporters marked another historic European success for PSG.

Source: AP