Loud “mystery bangs” echoing across London sparked invasion and war fears among residents before the booming was traced to a private fireworks display on the Thames.

Londoners were left fearing they were being invaded after a fireworks display boomed across large swathes of the capital on Thursday night.

Social media users in Catford , Canary Wharf and Crystal Palace reported hearing unexplained loud bangs after 9.30pm, with many saying the noises sounded like explosions.

The source of the eerie booms initially remained unclear, but they were later traced to a fireworks display in Greenwich.

The fireworks were part of a private event held on a boat operating between the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Pier and the former Greenwich Power Station Pier.

One stunned resident wr

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