Blast at Italian McDonald's

Italian police said yesterday they were investigating whether an explosion that killed a man near a McDonald's fast food restaurant in northern Italy was an accident or a failed attack.

A car loaded with four gas canisters exploded while the driver was in a queue to buy food at the outlet of the US hamburger chain late on Sunday in Brescia.

The driver was killed as he was trying to get out of the car, witnesses quoted by local media said.

The car, whose registered owner was from Morocco, exploded because it was saturated with gas, but it was not clear if the man had opened the valves or if they had leaked, police said.