Bonfire explosion at London Jewish celebration injures 30

About 30 people were injured following a bonfire explosion during Lag BaOmer Jewish holiday celebrations in London.

A bonfire explodes during a Jewish celebration.

A bonfire explodes during a Jewish celebration. Source: Twitter

Up to 30 people have been injured in a bonfire explosion at a Jewish event in North London.

Dramatic footage shows a large crowd gathered around a bonfire before it erupted into a fireball. 

The explosion at the Lag BaOmer holiday celebration may have been caused by partygoers throwing their mobile phones into the flames, according to reports. 

Volunteer ambulance service Hatzola said they assisted emergency services to treat "multiple patients" for burns. 

Others in the crowd were injured as people hurried to flee the scene. 

Yeshiva World News reports the Rebbe leading the ceremony had given a speech about the dangers of smartphones and said he would be burning his. 

This prompted others to follow his example, but it's unclear if other fuel had been added to the fire to cause the sudden explosion. 

Lighting bonfires is a traditional part of Lag BaOmer. The Jewish holiday falls on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, the period between Passover and Shavuot.  


1 min read

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Source: Reuters, SBS



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