Double decker bus explosion in London was just a stunt for new Jackie Chan movie

[Hans Mann]

The explosion of a red double decker bus in central London on Sunday alarmed witnesses unaware that it was actually a stunt for a Jackie Chan action film.

The bus was travelling across Lambeth Bridge not far from Britain's parliament when its top deck exploded with a large bang in a ball of flames.

One witness was the author Sophie Kinsella who said children in a park nearby had been "freaked" by the sight.

"I was freaked too. Looked very real," she wrote on Twitter.

In fact it was a controlled explosion for the action film "The Foreigner", starring actors Chan and Pierce Brosnan, which is due out later this year.

But for some it was all too reminiscent of the 7/7 attacks that killed dozens of people in London in 2005. One of those attacks targeted travellers on a red double decker bus.

John Taylor, whose 24-year-old daughter Carrie was killed in the 7/7 attacks, asked whether the stunt had been properly "thought through".

"You can totally understand why some people would be alarmed seeing this today," Taylor told the Daily Mirror newspaper's online edition.

"This seems particularly insensitive."

The bridge had been closed and the film producers had issued warnings of a controlled explosion to local residents and businesses before it was carried out.

Authorities, however, sought to reassure people afterwards.

"If you saw this on Lambeth bridge this morning don't worry it was for a film & not a real incident," wrote London Fire Brigade on Twitter.

Bus film stunt explosion shakes Londoners

[wasabi]

Typical Brit type reporting, mamby pamby fear horror trauma.
Oh My God, I hope they provide therapy for the park squirrels, ducks on the Thames, and the pigeons roosting under the bridge.
That picture in the OP is too graphic, it reminds Me of how close to death I was that day,going to the Thai embassy on that worst day in world history.
This article should have come with a warning. Not suitable for viewing.
I need a free NHS ambulance as Hyperventilation overcomes My obese benefits brain.

[BobR]

I'm really surprised movie making technology has not reached the point at which the explosion could be digitally simulated, or the bus blown up elsewhere and mated to a picture of the bridge.

[harrybarracuda]

I'm really surprised movie making technology has not reached the point at which the explosion could be digitally simulated, or the bus blown up elsewhere and mated to a picture of the bridge.

It probably has but it wouldn't get the publicity this just has.

[VocalNeal]

Too much flame for a real explosion?

[Bobcock]

I know a guy that was on the bus that exploded on 7/7, there's a picture of the bus somewhere with him still sitting in it so I'm told....