Diners flee after explosion at McDonalds in French town - bomb experts at scene
AN EXPLOSION has rocked a McDonalds restaurant in the French town of Grenoble.
Police cordon off explosion site at McDonalds in France
Dozens of diners fled the fast-food diner after an eplosion and fire at around 11.30am local time (10.30am GMT).
Staff reported seeing flames in an upstairs bathroom shortly before the blast in the south-east of France.
Their are also unconfirmed reports a suspect package had been spotted in the bathroom just moments before.
Police said they suspect a 'criminal origin' - although they have not clarified whether this constitutes arson or an explosive device.
Officers sealed off surrounding roads as they investigate the explosion, which occurred at around midday.
According to one local media source someone lit a firecracker in the bathroom, which led to the fire.
The loud noise emitted by such a device would also explain the reports of an explosion in the upstairs bathroom, which was badly damaged in the incident.
An explosion has been reported in a McDonalds restaurant in Grenoble, France
Bomb disposal experts were rushed to the scene by helicopter from Lyon, around 100km from the city in the south-east of France.
However at around 2pm local time the incident was handed over to judiciary police.
A fire or explosion broke out at a McDonalds in Grenoble, France this lunchtime
No-one has been injured as all 30 diners in the restaurant fled the scene safely.
A security perimitier was established around the fast-food restaurant as investigations took place.
The incident occurred in Grenoble in the south-east of the country
A police officer indicated other McDonalds branches in the area would be searched as a precaution.
It comes at a time of heightened security in France after a jihadi shot dead Parisian police officer Xavier Jugelé earlier this month.