Fire Destroys Israeli Embassy in Paris

PARIS (AP) - An intense fire destroyed the stately Israeli embassy in Paris early Thursday, but officials doubted it was arson or related to a recent wave of anti-Semitic attacks in France.

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The fire broke out around 2 a.m. in the five-story embassy, which was unoccupied at the time, police said. Eight firefighters were slightly injured during a five-hour battle to extinguish the blaze, and three were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Flames could be seen shooting through upper-floor windows as the fire advanced unhindered from floor to floor and then to the roof.

"It was like a pottery oven in there," said Fire Capt. Laurent Vibert said afterward.

Dozens of people were evacuated from adjacent apartment buildings.

Four of the embassy's five floors were left in ruins, charred beyond repair, Paris Police Chief Jean-Paul Proust said.