Film crew causes mass panic as huge fire and ‘five explosions’ rock the Thames just a stone’s throw from London’s O2 arena, blanketing the area in thick smoke: Police call it ‘pre-planned’ – but firefighters rush to the scene to tackle blaze

A film crew has caused widespread panic after a huge fire and five explosions rocked the Thames at the O2 Arena, blanketing the area in thick smoke.

Video footage shows flames and huge black clouds hanging over the London site after a controlled explosion went ‘out of control’.

London Fire Brigade was called to a fire involving a semi-truck and a lorry at 7.51pm.

Images from the scene show the victims included a burnt-out BBC World News truck and a police van.

According to marine engineers working on the Thames at the time of the explosion, it sounded like a “huge bomb exploding”.

Michael Weston, 56, told Mail Online: ‘It was incredibly loud. I thought my eardrums were going to burst.

‘Apparently a load of gas cylinders exploded. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

“It sounded like a bomb exploding.”

Video footage from the scene showed flames and huge black clouds swirling above the London location

A Met Police spokesperson confirmed it was a ‘pre-planned film shoot in the Canning Town area’ and that there was no danger to the public.

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters rushed to tackle the blaze at an open-air site on Dock Road in Silvertown. They could not confirm whether it was a film crew.

It has now been confirmed that the situation is under control. There are no reports of injuries.

The brigade said: ‘The fire in Silvertown followed a controlled explosion on a film set which spread out of control.

‘Firefighters acted quickly to extinguish the fire, which is now under control. Crews will remain on site for the rest of the evening.’

A Met Police spokesperson confirmed that it was a ‘pre-planned film shoot in the Canning Town area’ and that there was no danger to the public.

Greenwich City Council said filming was due to take place last week, on August 24, with a ‘loud explosion’ heard in the evening.

Ryan O’Sullivan, 44, who lives in an apartment across the street, said it sounded like an “earthquake.”

The company manager said: ‘We could have been warned that a controlled explosion was going to take place.

‘I thought it was a bomb. My apartment was shaking. It was a huge shock. The smoke went straight across the river. It was crazy.

“I just thought the worst.”

Another local said: ‘It was unbelievably loud. I couldn’t believe it. How on earth did it get that loud? It was insane.’

The fire is believed to have started in warehouses on the Isle of Dogs, across the river from the iconic location.

‘Loud bangs and explosions’ have been heard near the O2, while videos show huge plumes of smoke billowing into the air

The fire appears to have broken out in warehouses on the Isle of Dogs, just across the river from the iconic location

But shocked local residents, unaware of what was happening, expressed their concerns on social media.

Lauren Gregory said it was a “relief” that the huge bangs and smoke came from a film set.

She told MailOnline: ‘It was quite frightening because the explosions were very loud and the smoke cleared quickly. Shortly afterwards there were more explosions but no one knew what was happening.’

Chanel Bennett said watching the scene was “so, so scary.”

She said: ‘Security were running around in a panic and one of them told us it was planned but he looked very worried and ran away.’

Christopher Golds added: ‘Some kind of massive explosion in East London, just across the Thames from the O2. The emergency services are already there.’

Another, Sasha Stolp, said: ‘There’s just been a couple of explosions opposite the O2.’

And Valley Fontaine posted: ‘What were those two loud bangs and black smoke at O2?’

This is a breaking story. More to come.