300 held over unrest in France amid Algeria's football victory

Nearly 300 people were arrested here in clashes amid the celebrations of the Algerian national football team's qualification for the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), the French Interior Ministry said Monday.

As Algeria defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the semi-final, which led Algeria's way to the CAN final match for the first time since 1990, fans crowded in the streets for mass celebrations.

Football fans threw firecrackers, including at police, and climbed cars, and the traffic was paralyzed all the way to the Arc de Triomphe.

The arrests were made nationwide on Sunday evening, the ministry said.

Paris is home to large minority communities of Algerian origin.