At least 13 people died and six others were injured after a fire ravaged and destroyed a bar in the northern French town of Rouen on Saturday.
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The victims are aged between 18 and 25, according to local French newspapers.
French President Francois Hollande voiced his sympathy for the victims’ families and said “everything would be done” to find out what caused the fire.
The fire, at the Cuba Libre bar, broke out just before midnight local time on Friday (August 5), Paris-Normandie.fr said on its website.
Images from the scene show the bar’s front window shattered, its outdoor awning charred and tables overturned.
The paper said the ceiling quickly ignited when candles were lit.
Vice prosecutor Laurent Labadie told The Associated Press that the first testimonies from survivors and the early police investigation indicated the “fire was completely accidental”.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls also posted a tweet: “Deep sadness with regard to the tragedy which claimed 13 young lives”.
Six people were injured in the blaze, including one said to be in a critical condition.
While the full amount of individuals in the bar remains untold, Robert described the fire as being “very brief”. The attackers, were both nearly 19 and were also shot dead by French police as they tried to abscond the church.
Jittery France is on edge after a series of recent attacks by Islamic State-affiliated jihadists, including the killing of a priest in nearby Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
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The funeral for Father Jacques Hamel was held at Rouen cathedral on Tuesday.
