Major fire leaves huge smoke cloud over London

LONDON: A major fire broke out on Monday in an industrial area of east London but police allayed fears that it might be a terrorist attack.
     
The fire in Stratford created a huge pall of black smoke which could be seen for miles around. Firefighters were battling to control the blaze.
    
Despite initial fears that the incident could be a terrorist attack, police said "it is not the case."
    
London Fire Brigade were called to the scene around 12.06 pm (06:34 hrs IST) and by 12.30 (07:00 hrs IST) there were eight engines and 40 firefighters at the site at Waterden Road.
    
Terrified local residents reported thick black smoke clogging the streets and flooded the emergency services with 999 calls.
    
Witnesses at the scene have described the fire as "truly troubling".
    
Some claimed that the fire was on the edge of the Olympic Village while others believed it originated at a bus depot.