Massive explosion rocks Paris bakery

Twenty people have been injured — two of them critically — after a massive explosion in central Paris.

The blast and subsequent fire, caused by a gas leak at a bakery, destroyed several buildings in the historic 9th arrondissement, overturned cars and filled the streets with debris.

French journalists at the scene said the windows of buildings along the entire block on the Rue de Trevise in the commercial district were blown out at around 9am local time (8pm AEDT).

Despite initial fears of a terror attack police quickly ruled the blast was caused by a gas leak in a patisserie.