RIOTING broke out in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower last night as France’s Euro 2016 party was wrecked by violent street clashes.
Youths fought running battles with squads of heavily armed police before gangs began hijacking cars and torching them near the city’s iconic fan zone.
Huge clouds of tear gas were also pictured hanging over the world famous tower and police warned the public to steer clear.
Trouble broke out within minutes of the start of host nation France’s showpiece soccer clash with Portugal.
French authorities had set aside 80,000 places in a supposedly secure fanzone next to the Eiffel Tower.
But as numbers increased, tear gas was used to keep crowds back.
An officer at the scene said: “There were far too many people trying to get in.
“We had to try and keep them back, and that’s why tear gas was used.
“Some of those ejected began to set bins on fire near the Eiffel Tower, and that’s when we intervened. Unfortunately there was a lot of fighting.”
There was a mass panic in the same fanzone when France played Germany in the semi-final of the competition last Thursday.
A stampede broke out as fears of an Islamic State attack spread through the crowd.
Shocking footage showed hordes of people fleeing after what was believed to be a firecracker was mistaken for automatic gunfire.
That night, there were also disturbances on the Champs Elysee, as crowds of hooligans threw bottles and other missiles at police.
Five thousand police including armed units and sniper teams were drafted into a huge operation as police promised “total security” last night.
But order broke down within minutes of last night’s kick-off.
CRS riot police were seen charging fans, who responded by throwing bottles and other missiles.
Fires could be seen being lit all around the fighting, as security officials appealed for calm.
Security fears had led police to cancel a victory parade planned in the event of a French triumph on Monday.
It came as ground-to-air missiles and special forces prepared to protect fans and players at the biggest sporting event in the country this century.
RELATED STORIES
Police chief Michel Cadot cancelled the potential celebrations in advance as he deployed 5000 officers around key venues on Sunday.
Heavily armed officers were present at fan zones and the Stade de France, where France took on Portugal.
There are constant fears of another Islamic State attacks.
Last November Islamic state gunmen and suicide bombers murdered 130 people in a single evening around Paris.
France remains under a State of Emergency, and everything possible is being done to stop large crowds gathering.
The world famous Champs Elysee was the scene of mass celebrations in 1998, when Les Bleus beat Brazil at the Stade de France to become World Champions.
But the same famous thoroughfare was on maximum alert last night amid soaring tension following the Eiffel tower incidents.
Leave a comment