An eight-year old girl was reportedly among those hit by the blast but was not seriously hurt.

AFP cited police sources as saying that 13 people were injured and that 11 had been evacuated to hospital. None are in a serious condition, according to the mayor of the second arrondissement of Lyon, Denis Broliquier.

Police were able to track the suspects movements across the city on CCTV. “We have his itinerary there and back,” said Mr Broliquier. They lost him, however once he crossed the Rhone river to the East of the city.

The mayor said that while the bomb appeared to be the work of an “expert”, the "explosive charge was relatively weak”. Most of the injuries were caused by broken glass from a shop window.

French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed there had been an "attack in Lyon" but no deaths.

"My thoughts obviously go to the wounded and their families," he said during an interview.

In a sign of the seriousness of the attack, Edouard Philippe, the French prime minister, cancelled his appearance at the final rally of the Macron camp in Paris ahead of Sunday's European elections in France.

Christophe Castaner, the interior minister, travelled to the scene. In a tweet, he said he had ordered state authorities to "reinforce security at sites welcoming the public and sports, cultural and religions events".

The women's World Cup soccer tournament is scheduled to start in France on June 7. Lyon will host the semifinals, and then the final on July 7.

Police and soldiers patrolling as part of the anti-terror Vigipirate programme have closed off the area with a security cordon.