Explosion hits restaurant near mosque in France

An explosion took place Thursday morning in a restaurant next to a mosque in the French city of Villefrance-sur-Saone in Rhone region, a day after 12 people were killed in an attack on the office of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

No casualties were reported.

The explosion shattered windows of the restaurant at 6 a.m., Xinhua reported citing the Le Progres newspaper, adding that a gas leak would probably not be behind the blast.

"I am afraid that is linked to Wednesday's dramatic incident," Bernard Perrut, mayor of the city, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

On Wednesday, the office of Charlie Hebdo in Paris was attacked, leaving 12 people killed. Two suspects -- Cherif Kouachi, 32, and his 34-year-old brother Said -- are still at large. - IANS