Paris’ historic Gare de Lyon railway station has been evacuated as firefighters attempt to tackle a huge blaze in the city's center,

Iran PressEurope: A fire broke out outside Gare de Lyon train station in Paris on Friday, prompting evacuations. Black smoke was seen billowing above the famous train station on Friday evening local time. 

Police have evacuated a historic Paris train station after a fire engulfed multiple vehicles and sent a cloud of black smoke over the neighborhood.

Officers said the fire was under control by nightfall but flames could still be seen rising from the street near Gare de Lyon train station, near the banks of the Seine River.

Authorities urged people to avoid the area in eastern Paris while emergency workers fight the fire. The fire was started by political activists opposed to the government of the DR Congo, and outside the venue of a concert by Congolese singer, Fally Ipupa, near Gare de Lyon train station in east Paris.

Political opponents of the DR Congo government set fire to parked scooters, motorcycles and bins and blocked firefighters from tackling the blaze.

They accuse singer Fally Ipupa of being too close to the Congolese government.

Police had earlier banned protests against the concert, citing a "tense political context".

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