Los Angeles (AFP)
Seventy-six people were arrested Sunday night in Los Angeles following violence and vandalism that erupted after the NBA championship title won by the Lakers, police said, claiming eight injured in its ranks.
"What started in the downtown core as a peaceful celebration of the Los Angeles Lakers as NBA champions turned into a violent and destructive showdown last night," Los Angeles police said in a statement. .
A thousand Lakers fans gathered near the Staples Center, the home of the Lakers, after the Californian team's 4-2 victory over the Miami Heat in the final, in Orlando (Florida).
"Restless individuals mingled with the crowd and started throwing glass bottles and other projectiles at the police" who declared the gathering illegal and asked the participants to disperse, the statement continued.
"A large part" of the crowd then vandalized businesses and committed violence, sometimes targeting the police, according to the police.
More than 30 buildings were damaged and 76 people were stopped by police, who used non-lethal ammunition to disperse the crowd.
Local authorities had asked Lakers fans not to come near the stadium for the match, which was not broadcast on the big screen, in order to respect the health measures in force to fight the Covid-19 epidemic.
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