Four people have been killed after a huge explosion at a bakery in the French capital, Paris, officials say.

Two were firefighters who were responding to a gas leak when "a dramatic explosion" occurred, said Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

Thirty-seven people were injured, 10 seriously, in the blast on Rue de Trévise in the 9th Arrondissement at around 09:00 (08:00 GMT).

New anti-government protests are being held in Paris and other French cities.

Some 80,000 police officers were due to be on duty on Saturday as "yellow vest" demonstrators keep up their pressure protest, even though the Paris explosion is not thought to be connected with the demonstrations.

• In pictures: Rescuers fight bakery blaze

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.

What happened?

The Hubert bakery at No 6 Rue de Trévise was not due to be open at the time of the blast, Le Parisien newspaper reports.

A gas leak had been reported in the building and firefighters had been on their way to deal with it when the explosion occurred.

What happened?

The Hubert bakery at No 6 Rue de Trévise was not due to be open at the time of the blast, Le Parisien newspaper reports.

A gas leak had been reported in the building and firefighters had been on their way to deal with it when the explosion occurred.

Several firefighters are believed to be among the 20 people hurt, nine of whom were seriously injured, police sources say.

Helicopters landed on the nearby Place de l'Opéra to evacuate the injured, Reuters news agency reports.

A passing journalist, Emily Molli, described the force of the blast and vast extent of the damage.

A resident named Killian was asleep when the explosion blew in his windows. Everybody in the building came downstairs, he said, and he could hear screaming.

The blast also destroyed a theatre, he told French news channel BFMTV.

Paula Nagui, a receptionist at the nearby Diva Hotel, said there had been an "enormous blast" that shattered all the windows.

Anxious guests had received assurances that it was not a terror attack, she told Le Parisien.

BBC.COM