FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

French authorities said two firefighters have died, 10 people have serious injuries and a further 36 other casualties after the explosion at a bakery in one of Paris's biggest shopping districts. Spain's foreign minister confirmed the death of a Spanish national. The blast was heard in the centre of the city as dawn broke over the French capital. Conflicting reports had earlier suggested four people were killed but French authorities retracted the figure saying only two had died.

Two of the deaths were firefighters searching the building for a gas leak when the explosion hit. Ten of the injured have been described as critical by Paris fire service officials. Emergency services, including police who had been securing nearby areas against the Yellow Vest protestors, rushed to Rue de Treviso in Paris's 9th District, a short walk from the Louvre Museum. Paris was already on high alter and crawling with police as the city braces itself for another weekend of potentially violent Yellow Vest protests.

BREAKING: Explosion rocks Paris

Social media users posted pictures of a burning building on the street with its windows and entire ground floor blown out. The cause of the explosion is believed to have been a gas leak at a bakery. Wreckage from the massive blast was also seen strewn across the road and smoke billowed out of the building as firefighters battled desperately tried to rescue trapped people from inside the burning boulangerie. A fire engine was also pictured with what appears to be a radiator smashed through its windscreen.

Casualties are feared after an explosion at a bakery in central Paris

A fire engine responding to the Paris blast has had a radiator smashed through its windscreen

Interior minister Christophe Castaner said firefighters were inside the building looking for a gas leak when the explosion happened. Paris prosecutor Remi Heitz added: "At this stage we can say it (the gas blast) is clearly an accident." Meanwhile Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell said he "deeply regrets" the three deaths and confirmed another Spainiard had been injured in the explosion. Mr Borrell wrote on Twitter: "I deeply regret the death of three people after the explosion in the center of Paris, among them a Spaniard. "My condolences to your relatives and my desires of a prompt recovery to the other wounded Spaniard. Yellow Vest protestors have organised violent weekend demonstrations in major French cities including Paris in recent weeks.

Lamento profundamente el fallecimiento de tres personas tras la explosión en el centro de #París, entre ellas una española. Mis condolencias a sus familiares y mis deseos de una pronta recuperación al otro español herido. Nuestra embajada y consulado están a su disposición. — Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 12, 2019

Firefighters are evacuating people from the burning building in central Paris

It is unknown if there is any link between the blast and the protest. French authorities are bracing themselves for another day of tumultuous protests as the revolutionary Gilets Jaunes campaigners are due to take to the streets across France. Around 80,000 police and security force officers are preparing to contain with the protestors who are marching across the country in protest at French President Emmanuel Macron's taxation policy. France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has further angered the demonstrators by announcing government plans to crackdown on troublemakers.

The explosion happened on Rue de Treviso, not far from the Louvre