In an unfortunate turn of events, Arsenal’s victory parade on Sunday was marred by violence, as fans clashed in the streets of north London. The celebration, meant to honor Arsenal’s recent triumph, saw six individuals stabbed and 24 arrested amidst the chaos.
The most serious incident involved a man who was stabbed just before 8:30 PM, requiring urgent medical attention. Initially reported to be in a life-threatening condition, he has since been stabilized in the hospital.
Law enforcement faced significant challenges during the parade, with ten individuals apprehended for assaulting officers. One of these individuals, who was recalled to prison, also faced accusations of racial abuse directed at the police.
Among other arrests, three people were taken into custody on suspicion of sexual assault. Additionally, charges were brought against individuals for possession of a lock knife and class C drugs, as well as for grievous bodily harm after inflicting a head injury.
Police officers were not spared from the violence; one officer sustained a slash wound to the hand, while another was injured after being struck on the head by objects thrown from the crowd.
The celebration came on the heels of Arsenal’s men’s team securing their first Premier League title in 22 years. The team marked the occasion with a five-mile open-top bus tour through Islington, just a day after a hard-fought Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, where they narrowly lost on penalties in Budapest.
They were joined by the women’s team, who triumphed in the inaugural Fifa Women’s Champions Cup earlier in the season.
But violence marred the celebrations – video posted to Instagram appeared to show a man and two women throwing punches at each other before a clip of three women fighting near the Emirates stadium.
A man aimed right-handed jabs at two women in the streets by the Emirates stadium during Arsenal’s victory parade on Sunday afternoon
A woman appeared to try and hit the man before he lashed out, swinging as his two female victims
Meanwhile a woman was dragged away from two others after they clashed, attempting to slap each other with outstretched arms
Fans took to the streets as Arsenal paraded the Premier League trophy, their first in 22 years, round a five-mile north London route on Sunday afternoon
Fellow fans tried to separate the sparring Gooners as they squared up to each other on rubbish-lined streets by the club’s stadium on Sunday.
The man filming the video asked ‘what’s going on?’ as fans squared up to each other.
A woman in a red Arsenal shirt then appeared to aim a jab at a man before he pushed her and began to punch her and another fan, who was wearing a white T-shirt with the club’s name emblazoned on the chest.
The man, wearing the same red shirt as his victim, blue tracksuit bottoms and black trainers, punched the two women at least three times with his right arm before being hauled away.
After the two women escaped from their assailant, the man filming said: ‘Don’t come to Arsenal parades if you do not support Arsenal.’
Another clip showed three women running at each other and trying to aim slaps with outstretched arms before they were separated by other fans.
The cameraman then said: ‘I don’t know what’s going on today.’
One of the women who had attempted to fight was told to ‘chill’ by other fans as she continued to look agitated and move around the crowd.
A member of the crowd told her: ‘You’re being f****** mad, stop.’
Meanwhile a woman in a white Arsenal shirt told another of the brawling women: ‘Don’t do it man, it’s not worth it.’
It is unclear if anyone depicted in the video was arrested.
The Met said two were arrested at the parade on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, one of whom was also arrested for a public order offence after making homophobic comments to an officer.
A further person was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police, one for affray and three for breaching a Section 35 dispersal order.
Forensic officers examined the scene of an alleged stabbing on Hornsey Road after the parade
Streets were left covered in litter after the parade, thought to have attracted hundreds of thousands of people
London Fire Brigade said it had rescued around 75 people from height during the parade.
A fire at a hotel is also believed to have been started by a stray flare.
Arsenal won their first Premier League title since 2004 after Manchester City drew with Bournemouth on May 19, leaving them four points adrift of the Gunners with only one game to play.
Mikel Arteta’s side lifted the trophy at Selhurst Park on May 24 after their final fixture against Crystal Palace, with celebrities including Piers Morgan and Jack Whitehall among the away fans.
But the club’s fortune ended there as they lost to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday night to miss out on a first-ever Champions League title.
Rowdy Arsenal fans confronted police officers on Sunday afternoon, as one supporter put his middle fingers up
Metropolitan Police officers drew their batons as hordes of fans took over the streets of north London
One fan was seen climbing on top of an ambulance that had its blue lights flashing
After taking an early lead through Kai Havertz, the French side levelled from the penalty spot before missed spot-kicks by Eberechi Eze and Gabriel meant Arsenal faced the same ill fate as 2006, when they last appeared in the tie.
There had been scenes of violence and destruction across France after PSG’s win on Saturday night.
PSG fans clashed with riot police across the French capital, where more than 280 people were arrested as scenes of anarchy marred what should have been a night of jubilation after the club made history by becoming only the second club to retain the European trophy.
Across the country, including those in Paris, a total of 416 people were arrested last night, prompting interior minister Laurent Nunez to condemn the chaos as ‘absolutely unacceptable’ as police officers were wounded in the violence.
Around 5,000 police and gendarmes were deployed in Paris to police crowds who were watching the final.
French officers used tear gas and baton charges against crowds in the French capital who had gathered to watch the game on TV screens outside bars and cafés in sweltering heat on Saturday afternoon.
Weapons and fireworks were among the items confiscated by officers.
‘The trouble started as soon as Arsenal went one-nil up,’ said an onlooker. ‘Chairs and bottles were thrown at the police, who then moved in to make arrests.’
Some Paris St Germain fans managed to climb up scaffolding on a building close to the Rue de Rivoli – one of the main shopping streets in the French capital.
The unrest continued into the night with all buses in Paris stopped due to the large number of people gathering on the streets.
And in dramatic scenes outside the Eiffel Tower, multiple vehicles were set alight.
Hundreds of tourists visiting nearby monuments such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum also found themselves caught up in the trouble.
