Huge blast rocks French capital

A large explosion has gone off in the French capital, Paris, destroying cars and damaging buildings in the city's ninth district.

Images shared on social media, purportedly from the site of the blast, showed the area around Rue De Montyon covered in debris strewn across the boulevard and flames coming from the base of the building.

The exact cause of the blast, which happened on Saturday morning, is unknown.

The blast occurred on the Rue de Trevise, which is located in the 9th arrondissement of the French capital.

A fire broke out after the blast at around 9 a.m. local time, which police suspect may have been caused by a gas leak at a bakery.

Emergency services were arriving at the scene. Paris police tweeted to warn the public to "avoid the area and allow the passage of the emergency vehicles".

Weekly protests by the yellow vest movement, which is railing against the economic policies of French President Emmanuel Macron, were scheduled for Saturday.