Clashes erupt in LA during Lakers title celebration

Police had to intervene several times during the Lakers' title celebration night in Los Angeles.

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Seventy-six people were arrested in Los Angeles on Sunday night following violence and vandalism that erupted after the Lakers won the NBA championship title, LA police said, claiming eight injured in its ranks.

"What started in the downtown area as a peaceful celebration of the Los Angeles Lakers as NBA champions turned into a violent and destructive showdown last night," the Los Angeles police said in a statement. .

LAPD is actually shooting up the Lakers celebration rally.

Fuck you @LAPDHQ pic.twitter.com/Qsos2DQAbr

- yes on j, no on 22 & 25 (@genericdemocrat) October 12, 2020

A thousand Lakers fans gathered near Staples Center, home of the Lakers, after the Californian team won 4-2 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.

Fans defy anti-Covid guidelines

Still according to the police, "a large part" of the crowd then vandalized businesses and committed violence, sometimes targeting 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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