Major fire breaks out in building in central Paris

Fire crews are attempting to put out the blaze on boulevard des Capucines, near the Place de L'Opera

A large fire has broken out in a building on boulevard des Capucines, near the Place de L'Opera in central Paris, sending clouds of smoke rising into the air. People were told to avoid the area, which is popular with tourists, as fire crews tackled the blaze on Saturday.

Firemen are intervening," the prefecture de Police said in a statement on Twitter.