At least six police officers have been injured, including three seriously, in a house explosion in France, according to media reports.

The gendarmes, French paramilitary police, had gone to the property to arrest a man who was then killed in the blast in the central region of Allier, it is believed.

For several days, the suspect, named as Christophe B, 38, had reportedly made death threats, including against a prison and probation service official.

Three officers managed to arrest the man before they noticed a very strong smell of petrol. The explosion then occurred, setting the property in Les Palissards on fire.

The three officers were badly burnt and were taken to hospital.

Three other officers who went into the house to rescue their colleagues suffered less severe injuries, including burns to their hands.

The suspect’s body was found once the fire was put out.

“Three gendarmes were seriously injured following an explosion in a house in which they had come to arrest an individual, himself deceased,” said the public prosecutor in Cusset, Eric Neveu.

He said the roof of the house was “completely destroyed”.

Christophe B had been on probation at the time of the blast.

He had around a dozen convictions including for threats against the police and traffic offences, according to French media.