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By Robert Birsel and Shane Croucher
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Explosions were heard before a van caught fire in Paris just yards from where French political leaders were gathering amid a government crisis, media reported, citing witnesses and the fire service.
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The incident happened on the Rue de Varenne in the French capital's 7th Arrondissement. Nearby is the Hôtel Matignon, the office of the French prime minister.
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Media reported a fire in a van followed by three explosions. There were no reports of any injuries and firefighters told Le Parisien that the fire had not spread to neighboring buildings.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire and the explosions, but an image shared on social media showed black smoke billowing from a van belonging to Cielis, a company that manages the city's public lighting.
The incident comes in the midst of a political crisis, just a day after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after less than a month in the role.
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The fourth toppling of a French head of government in 15 months risks fueling uncertainty in the European Union's second-largest economy at a time when France faces daunting fiscal challenges and global instability, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and shifting U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
Lecornu is due to start two days of last-ditch talks on Tuesday with members of various parties to find a way out of the crisis.
Lecornu's resignation on Monday came a day after he unveiled a new government, which was met with widespread criticism in the National Assembly for not representing a significant enough change.
But later on Monday, President Emmanuel Macron asked Lecornu to try to come up with a solution by late on Wednesday.
In the absence of a resolution over the next two days, Macron must decide whether to name another prime minister, who is almost sure to face the same problems that brought down Lecornu, or call a general election.
The far-right National Rally, the largest single party by seats in the assembly, is calling for an election.
Update 10/7/2025 5:10 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.
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