French hooligans throwing rocks and fireworks clash with cops after Euro 2016 VICTORY over Germany
Violence in Paris and Marseille as riot police use tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of footie yobs
RIOT police used baton charges and tear gas against hundreds of footie yobs after France's Euro 2016 semi-final victory early yesterday.
French hooligans pelted police with rocks and fireworks on the Champs Elysees in Paris after the 2-0 triumph over World Champions Germany.
Mick Barnes, a 44-year-old Englishman said: “They were throwing fireworks and stones, and setting fire to anything they could.
“Riot police were the main targets to begin with, and then they charged and used tear gas to disperse the yobs.”
A Paris police spokesman confirmed the “violent incidents” on the famous central thoroughfare at around 1am.
A part of the mob is reported to have then continued up towards tourist landmark the Arc de Triomphe.
Trouble was also reported in other cities – including Marseille, where the game took place – as fan celebrations turned ugly.
Police reported more than 1,000 football-related arrests since the start of Euro 2016 a month ago – 65 of which were English.
The most serious disorder was in Marseille, where England fans fought running battles with Russian and French hooligans.
Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said a rampaging group of around 150 Russian hooligans were behind the worst of the trouble, describing them as "hyper violent" and "hyper fast".
Six England fans were jailed and banned from France after appearing in court on June 13, two days after the 1-1 draw.
And there was more trouble on a smaller scale in Lille, when England played Wales in nearby Lens.
France will be on maximum alert against yobs and terror threats again on Sunday, when the hosts play Portugal in the final at Paris’s Stade de France.
The nation remains under a State of Emergency, following last November’s terrorist attacks, in which 130 people were killed by Islamic State fanatics.