A MASSIVE fireball explosion near The 02 Arena was caused by a convicted paedophile who blew up a BBC lorry while filming naked on his film set.
Sex offender Jacky Jahj, 38, loaded an old BBC truck and Union Jack draped vehicles with explosives in a pre-planned blast and filmed while the fire went out of control.
Jacky Jhaj was jailed for four years in 2016 for having sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls[/caption]
The explosion launched a loud cracking noise into the air[/caption]
The remains of a fire damaged BBC World News lorry on the film set[/caption]
Hundreds of calls were made to emergency services with many local people fearing there had been a terrorist attack.
Panicked residents caught the inferno on video from miles around as it sent flames and black smoke into the London sky.
Disgraced director and actor Jahj was jailed for four years in 2016 after being found guilty on four counts of sexual activity with two 15-year-olds after posing as a film producer.
Around 70 crew members have already walked out of his latest production dubbed ‘Project Dover’ after the shocking stunt.
A set worker described police vehicles and a BBC truck that were loaded “with explosives” which are thought to be the explosions which spread fear in communities across East London a week later.
The terrifying explosion was triggered by using gun powder and a detonation cord, which sent the roof of a police van 50ft in the air at an open-air yard in Silvertown, Newham.
One video posted on Reddit shows a naked Jhaj casually walking nearby as firefighters battle the searing flames while black smoke billows into the sky
Blasts were heard on Saturday on each side of the Thames near Canning Town when three loud explosions shocked residents hailing from a film set whose producer was not yet identified.
Residents were not warned of the film production stunts, except for a post to the Borough of Greenwich’s official Facebook page.
The shock following the explosions resulted in over 90 calls to emergency services and the London City Airport shutting down operations for the evening.
A photo which the employee shared with The Sun shows a BBC World News 18-wheeler with debris which can be assumed to come from an explosion in front of it.
Around the truck, there are also two police vehicles and a drone flying overhead.
The whole scene took place in front of the O2, just in front Canary Wharf.
One video of the fire shows it burning before it erupts in a bright orange explosion, reportedly the third eruption of the night.
The London Fire Brigade said it had “tackled” the blaze with four fire engines and 25 firefighters to get it “under control”.
It said in a statement: “One van was destroyed by the fire and most of a car and lorry were damaged by the fire.
“There are currently no reports of any injuries.”
One witness said they heard “absolutely enormous and very loud explosions” next to their flat and a shipping container was on fire.
The Met Police said in a statement it is aware of the reports of explosions.
The force said: “This was part of a pre-planned filming event in the Canning Town E16 area.
“There is no risk to the public.”
Some witnesses stated a BBC shipping container is on fire while one image showing a BBC World News truck earlier at the site.
The corporation filmed near the location last weekend with it involving a “loud explosion” the Royal Borough of Greenwich said.
Thick black smoke could later be seen billowing into the sky[/caption]
One witness said they heard loud bangs before the flames erupted[/caption]
