Firefighters are tackling a blaze in a business center of Paris after a powerful explosion which injured at least 20 people, police say. Police suspect a gas leak caused the explosion which occurred in a bakery around 09:00 (08:00 GMT).
Cars were wrecked and other buildings were damaged by the blast on Rue de Trévise in the 9th Arrondissement. The police asked people to stay away from the area, to allow emergency services access.
In the immediate aftermath, smashed cars and debris from other shop fronts littered the street in front of the burning bakery as people stood around, looking stunned by the force of the explosion.
Paris and other French cities have been bracing themselves for a new round of anti-government protests by “yellow vest” demonstrators, with 80,000 police officers due to be on duty on Saturday – although the explosion is not thought to be connected with the demonstrations.
