Mysterious explosions and lights reported across South East England

[Blackleaf]

This mysterious footage captures the series of loud explosions and flashes of bright light that were reported across South East England last night.

The strange noises were heard in Essex and parts of East London and many concerned locals took to social media to look for answers.

One man in Ilford, north east London, filmed the sky at around 11pm and spotted the eerie flashes of light before capturing the loud bangs, which he said shook his house.

'I think it was a meteorite burning up in the atmosphere. This would give off light and cause a sonic boom', he said.

The Royal Observatory at the Royal Museum of Greenwich discredited this notion, however.

Dramatic footage captures three mystery EXPLOSIONS and a flash of light that rocked houses and woke residents in Essex last night as they question if it was a meteorite, fighter jet... or even a UFO

Concerned residents in South East England reported loud bangs last night
The explosions followed flashes of bright light that illuminated sky at 11pm
People took to social media and suggested the noises were caused by a jet
Man who shot footage of explosions claimed a meteorite may be to blame

By Jake Polden For Mailonline
6 June 2016

This mysterious footage captures the series of loud explosions and flashes of bright light that were reported across South East England last night.

The strange noises were heard in Essex and parts of East London and many concerned locals took to social media to look for answers.

One man in Ilford, north east London, filmed the sky at around 11pm and spotted the eerie flashes of light before capturing the loud bangs, which he said shook his house: Go here to see the footage - Video sees three mystery EXPLOSIONS and a flash of light that woke residents in Essex | Daily Mail Online

Before: One man in Ilford, north east London, filmed the sky at around 11pm and captured footage of the loud explosions

After: The man videoed a flash of bright light (circled), which occurred before the explosions were heard

'I have a theory that it was a meteorite,' said the video maker. 'If it had been a land-based explosion there would be damage somewhere but so far no damage.'

'It was too loud to be a firework that's for sure and fireworks don't shake houses. I don't think it's a supersonic aircraft as a sonic boom does not give off light.

'I think it was a meteorite burning up in the atmosphere. This would give off light and cause a sonic boom.'

The Royal Observatory at the Royal Museum of Greenwich discredited this notion, however.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'This doesn't have the character of a meteor, since such a blast would only occur after a sustained bright light during atmospheric entry - not a quick flash as shown in the video.

'It's also somewhat unlikely that three blasts would be heard. It looks and sounds a little bit more like a firework.

'An object would only be classed as a meteorite if it actually reached the ground - something up in the air like this would be a meteor.

'Our understanding of large meteors and fireballs is that, although they can produce sonic booms and/or loud bangs (in the latter case when they fragment violently), they are more likely to produce a sustained glow for several seconds (which may vary in brightness) as they move across the sky, rather than a single, momentary flash.'

A number of Twitter users living in the area took to social media to comment on the explosions and to suggest other possible causes.

The majority claimed it could be a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier, while others even suggested a UFO may have visited the area.

Sonic boom? A number of Twitter users suggested a fighter jet breaking the sound barrier may have caused the loud bangs heard over Essex and parts of East London last night

Concerned: One social media user heard the noises in the area and took to Twitter to express her worry

Unexplained: Twitter users asked whether other people heard the explosions, which shook houses in the area

Worrying: One Twitter user claimed that she heard two or three explosions in the sky over East London

Unanswered: There is no current explanation as to what could have caused the loud explosions last night

The truth is out there! One Twitter user suggested extraterritorial activity may have been to blame

One person wrote: 'Hoping the explosion sounds heard in East London/Essex aren't anything serious.'

While another said: 'Just heard three loud booms, like an explosion here in East London. Anyone know anything?'

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that it was 'not aware' of the noises but would be looking into it to see if it was caused by a jet.

While a Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that the force had received calls reporting the loud noises but that they would not be looking into it.

Last month panicked people in the Midlands took to social media after two huge explosions were heard around Northampton and Brackley.

It was later reported that the booms were caused by Typhoon jets, which had been scrambled from an RAF base in Lincolnshire to identify an unresponsive aircraft.

Commenting at the time, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'Quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft were launched today from RAF Coningsby to identify an unresponsive civilian aircraft.

'Communications were re-established and the aircraft has been safely escorted to Cardiff airport.'

Nope! A man who captured video footage of the explosions suggested it could be a meteorite, but the Royal Observatory at the Royal Museum of Greenwich discredited this notion

Read more: Video sees three mystery EXPLOSIONS and a flash of light that woke residents in Essex | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
​

 

[MHz]

The time between the flash and the sound would give you the distance. I hope that isn't news to you. (need I say that info might pinpoint what happened)

 

[Blackleaf]

Maybe it's the Armageddon that the Remain campaign have said would happen if Brexit occurs. With Brexit looming ever closer - as things stand, the Brexiteers are on course for victory - maybe Armageddon is starting.

 

[lone wolf]

Until you know what it was, it's a UFO

 

[Blackleaf]

Until you know what it was, it's a UFO

Yep. If it's flying and is unidentified, it's a UFO.

I'd be highly surprised, though, if nobody has suggested on Twitter or wherever that it's the return of the Essex Entity.

 

[Ludlow]

Praise the LOAD signs and wonders bless god armegeddon is here let the blood letting begin,,,amen.

 

[Blackleaf]

Praise the LOAD signs and wonders bless god armegeddon is here let the blood letting begin,,,amen.

It's probably just the Essex Entity.

The Essex Entity is a phenomenon which has been reported for centuries in Essex and in nearby areas of the bordering counties - Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Greater London, Kent. People for centuries in these areas have reported mysterious bright flashes of light in the skies which are accompanied by strange noises, often bangs and clangs but also wails and noises which sound like bells ringing. Medieval people thought it was the work of the Devil whereas, over a thousand years ago, the inhabitants of East Saxon (Essex) attributed the phenomenon to the Anglo-Saxon god Wayland the Smith, who works eternally in his smithy in the heavens surrounded by his tools. The Anglo-Saxons named Wayland's Smithy, a Neolithic burial mound in Oxfordshire, after him in around 955. According to legend, a traveller whose horse has lost its shoe can leave the horse and a silver coin on the capstone at Wayland's Smithy and when he returns he will find the horse has been re-shod and the coin gone. In Beowulf, England's first great piece of literature, it is Wayland who fashions Beowulf's mail shirt. Today, the mysterious flashes of light and accompanying noises heard every now and then in Essex and neighbouring areas have been dubbed "the Essex Entity", but there are still those who believe the strange flashes and noises they sometimes see and hear late at night are Wayland the Smith still toiling ceaselessly in his smithy.

 

[MHz]

Obviously Russia is just testing a new weapon out as the only alternative is too horrid to imagine. As the conveyor belt that is allowing Ireland and the UK to be drawn further out to sea, so far that Ireland vanishes beneath the waves and the UK is close behind.

Bugga, bugga.

 

[Blackleaf]

It's probably just the Essex Entity.

The Essex Entity is a phenomenon which has been reported for centuries in Essex and in nearby areas of the bordering counties - Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Greater London, Kent. People for centuries in these areas have reported mysterious bright flashes of light in the skies which are accompanied by strange noises, often bangs and clangs but also wails and noises which sound like bells ringing. Medieval people thought it was the work of the Devil whereas, over a thousand years ago, the inhabitants of East Saxon (Essex) attributed the phenomenon to the Anglo-Saxon god Wayland the Smith, who works eternally in his smithy in the heavens surrounded by his tools. The Anglo-Saxons named Wayland's Smithy, a Neolithic burial mound in Oxfordshire, after him in around 955. According to legend, a traveller whose horse has lost its shoe can leave the horse and a silver coin on the capstone at Wayland's Smithy and when he returns he will find the horse has been re-shod and the coin gone. In Beowulf, England's first great piece of literature, it is Wayland who fashions Beowulf's mail shirt. Today, the mysterious flashes of light and accompanying noises heard every now and then in Essex and neighbouring areas have been dubbed "the Essex Entity", but there are still those who believe the strange flashes and noises they sometimes see and hear late at night are Wayland the Smith still toiling ceaselessly in his smithy.

Everything I said about Wayland the Smith and Wayland's Smithy in Oxfordshire is true, but the stuff about the "Essex Entity" and the noises supposedly being made by Wayland the Smith are something I just made up.

Obviously Russia is just testing a new weapon out as the only alternative is too horrid to imagine. As the conveyor belt that is allowing Ireland and the UK to be drawn further out to sea, so far that Ireland vanishes beneath the waves and the UK is close behind.

Bugga, bugga.

I don't think it was Russia that caused it, to be honest. If it was some sort of secret weapon it was likely likely a British one.

And the UK and Ireland are not being drawn further out to sea. Europe - including Britain and Ireland - and North America are moving further apart from each other each year, at something like the rate of 1 inch per year, at around the speed that fingernails grow.

At the start of this century and millenium - 1st January 2000 - Britain and America were a whopping 16 inches - 1 and a quarter feet - or so closer together than they are now.