Revealed: Enormous film set explosion that left terrified locals near London’s O2 Arena fearing a bomb had gone off was caused by a convicted paedophile who blew up a BBC lorry in warped stunt – while filming stark NAKED by side of the Thames

A planned explosion on a film set next to the O2 Arena that spread out of control and left locals terrified was organised by a convicted paedophile – who was being filmed naked as part of the stunt.

Sex offender Jacky Jhaj stood naked as a 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.

Jhaj, who was jailed for four years in 2016 for having sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls, was filming a scene entirely naked for a production dubbed ‘Project Dover’, according to sources.

The 38-year-old was sat at a typewriter surrounded by hundreds of newspapers on the floor before he flicked cigarettes at a police car, a police van and a BBC World News branded lorry which all exploded into a huge blaze. 

The filming was first due to take place on August 24 with Jhaj wearing a ‘grotesque evil villain mask’. 

But the special effects and film crew pulled out when Jhaj removed his prosthetic mask and one of the cast recognised who he was. He had been using the name Toby until that point.

Jhaj is said to have offered cash incentives for people to continue, including engineers who he offered £5,000 instead of their usual £750 fee. 

The enormous blast left locals terrified with many likening it to a bomb going off or an earthquake

Sex offender Jhaj, 38, stood naked and triggered a terrifying explosion by using gun powder and a detonation cord, which sent the roof of a police van 50ft in the air at the open-air yard

One source described the explosions as a ‘complete disaster’ and said’So all in all, it was, pardon my French, a bit of a s**t show’

One video posted on Reddit shows a naked Jhaj (circled) casually walking nearby as firefighters battle the searing flames while black smoke billows into the sky

A naked Jhaj walks in front of the flames after the planned explosion which had terrified locals

It is understood Jhaj drafted in a different team of special effects technicians from Eastern Europe for the ‘reshoot’ on Saturday night with the set being rigged with ‘high explosives’

A source exclusively told MailOnline: ‘He has apparently got form in terms of setting up fictitious films and things like that, hiding the agenda and his identity from the legitimate and professional businesses and individuals that get booked via a separate production company to carry out the film work.

‘Now we think this one was a giant F U to the BBC, the police and the newspapers for outing him for the offences that he was committed or charged with.’ 

It is understood Jhaj drafted in a different team of special effects technicians from Eastern Europe for the ‘reshoot’ on Saturday night with the set being rigged with ‘high explosives’.

But some did not initially fire, MailOnline understands, with a lorry cab exploding two or three minutes after the initial blast and delaying access to the contracted firefighters from tackling the blaze earlier.

One source described it as a ‘complete disaster’ and said: ‘So that could have been very, very nasty had the fire crew been allowed to get in any closer. 

‘So all in all, it was, pardon my French, a bit of a s**t show.’

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

The BBC said it had no involvement in the event. A spokesman said: ‘There is no BBC News involvement in the events of this evening in docklands.’

Residents living close to last night’s blast were last night furious as they likened the explosion just across from the Thames to a ‘bomb going off’ and an ‘earthquake’.

Residents living close to last night’s blast were last night furious as they likened the explosion just across from the Thames to a ‘bomb going off’ and an ‘earthquake’

One resident fumed: ‘This was not planned properly and scared a lot of people and wasted a lot of emergency services time’

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

The remains of a fire damaged BBC World News lorry on a film set next to the river Thames

The BBC said it had no involvement in the event. A spokesman said: ‘There is no BBC News involvement in the events of this evening in docklands’

A source exclusively told MailOnline they think ‘this one was a giant F U to the BBC, the police and the newspapers for outing him [Jhaj] for the offences that he was committed or charged with’

A BBC branded lorry and police car on a ‘film set’ near the O2 Arena before they blown up in a planned explosion  

Videos from the scene showed flames and huge black clouds swirling above opposite the London 02 Arena

But some did not initially fire, MailOnline understands, with a lorry cab exploding two or three minutes after the initial blast

The blaze sparked mass confusion as the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council had warned residents that there would be a ‘loud explosion’ during filming on August 24.

A spokesperson for the Met Police confirmed it was a ‘pre-planned filming event in the Canning Town area’, and there was no risk to the public.

MailOnline has asked the council why the pre-planned film set explosion, which ultimately raged out of control, took place on August 31 instead. 

Newham Council, which manages the Silvertown area, said it would be working with the film company, fire brigade and Greenwich Council to ‘understand what led to the incident’.

Angry residents have since fumed at the council, with Kamila Pawlowska writing: ‘Who will be responsible for miscommunication with local businesses?’

Kelly Anne posted: ‘Local residents were not informed of this happening today and it caused a lot of panic and stress.  

‘The London Fire Service were quick to respond as well as helicopters and police boats on the river.

‘This was not planned properly and scared a lot of people and wasted a lot of emergency services time.’

A third resident, Hannah Wray, asked: ‘It was very loud on the East London side and lots of smoke. Was the filming delayed and did it go wrong?’

Boat engineers working on the River Thames when the explosion happened said it sounded like a ‘massive bomb going off’.

Michael Weston, 56, told MailOnline: ‘It was incredibly loud. I thought it was going to burst my ear drums.

It is understood Jhaj drafted in a different team of special effects technicians from Eastern Europe for the ‘reshoot’ on Saturday night with the set being rigged with ‘high explosives’ 

Thick plumes of smoke could be seen billowing into the sky above the iconic music venue 

The blaze sparked mass confusion as the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council had warned residents that there would be a ‘loud explosion’ during filming on August 24

The Royal Borough of Greenwich council had warned residents to expect a ‘loud explosion’ during filming on August 24

However, furious residents were left in a state of ‘panic and stress’ after the described explosion actually took place on August 31 – a week later

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

‘It sounded like a bomb going off.’

A spokesman for the Met Police said: ‘The Met was made aware of the pre-planned filming, including the use of explosives, prior to the event taking place on the evening of Saturday, 31 August. 

‘It appears this information was not disseminated as widely as it should have been and we are looking at the systems currently in place to establish why this was the case in this instance.’

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: ‘In terms of the 24th, firefighters were called to reports of a fire at an open air yard on a filmset in Canning Town.

‘The Brigade was called at 20.03 and the incident was over for firefighters by 20.22. Two fire engines from Plaistow and Poplar fire stations attended the scene.’

In June, Jhaj, 38, was arrested on suspicion of breaching a sexual harm prevention order after he was accused of attending a casting session with children where he videoed and photographed them.

He was pictured with a large group of children gathered around him and a £3.2million Bugatti Chiron outside dance school The Hub Studios in east London, where he is said to have got them to cheer for him as he gave them golden envelopes and even a necklace. 

Jhaj, who poses as a film producer, faces trial at Isleworth Crown Court on 4 August 2025, for breaching notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order.

The convicted paedophile, of Feltham, was jailed after supplying the two 15-year-olds with alcohol and taking them to parties in Hounslow, west London, in his silver Range Rover.

He pretended he was 21 and a top Hollywood producer before assaulting them.

MailOnline revealed in April he had used an internationally renowned casting platform Backstage to hire child actors in order to stage an elaborate £10,000 fake funeral at the London Oratory. 

Dozens of child actors as young as six were recruited as supposed film extras dressed in school uniforms for the event

Jhaj was filmed in October last year with as many as 200 children and young women playing his fans as he hosted a fake movie premiere at Leicester Square, in London 

In June, Jhaj was pictured with a large group of children gathered around him and a £3.2million Bugatti Chiron outside dance school The Hub Studios in east London

The sick hoax a month earlier sparked international media attention when it emerged that the presiding priest had dramatically stopped the service upon realising that it was being filmed, that the mourners were paid actors and the coffin was empty.

Jhaj paid for a horse-drawn hearse to carry the empty coffin. 

Jhaj was filmed on 17 October last year with up to 200 children and young women playing his fans during a fake movie premiere at Leicester Square, in London.

He was spotted outside the Odeon Luxe cinema, where a red carpet was set up with barricades.

Jhaj can be seen repeatedly parading up and down in different outfits and then greeting some of the extras, in videos and photographs seen by the BBC.

But casting agencies have said actors were kept safe and children had chaperones.