Multiple injuries have been reported after an explosion at a bakery in Paris, according to police.

The powerful blast is believed to be linked to a gas leak at a store on Rue de Trevise in the 9th arrondissement of the French capital.

Firefighters pulled injured victims out of windows and evacuated residents.
Images and video posted on social media showed the building on fire after the explosion around 9am local time.

Witnesses on French television described the overwhelming sound of the blast and people trapped inside nearby buildings. Footage also showed several being people taken away on stretchers by emergency workers.

A police spokeswoman said several injuries have been reported to officials but no deaths.

The Hubert bakery on Rue de Trevise was not open when the explosion occurred, according to the Le Parisien newspaper. Cars on the street were badly damaged by large amounts of debris, while rubble and broken glass littered the pavement.

The building is around the corner from the Folies-Bergere theatre, not far from the shopping district that includes the famed headquarters of Galeries Lafayette.

The explosion came amid heavy security across France for more yellow vest protests expected later on Saturday.

Authorities have deployed 80,000 security forces nationwide for a ninth straight weekend of anti-government protests.

Paris has brought in armoured vehicles and the central French city of Bourges has shuttered shops to prepare for possible violence between police and demonstrators.

The Independent

BDST: 1651 HRS, JAN 12, 2019
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