London, U.K. -- A Thai chef in London triggered fears of a chemical attack among local restaurant patrons when smoke from his eye-watering hot chilli sauce led to the emergency services being called out Wednesday, reports said.

The Thai chef Chalemchai Tangjariyapoon, who works at the Thai Cottage restaurant in the entertainment district of Soho, was cooking up bird's eye chillies as he prepared a huge batch of nam prik pao, a Thai's cuisine exotic food, an extra-hot dip served with prawn crackers.

The smoke from the kitchen massed around the street, creating an huge cloud which sent shoppers spluttering for cover and prompted police to barricade several streets and evacuate homes and businesses.

According to security service M15, the scare came as Britain is facing a severe threat of terrorist attack.

Restaurant staff, who are used to the aroma, were rattled when firefighters broke down their door Monday evening.

Waitress Supranee Yodmuang added that she and other staff were asked to step out of the restaurant by firefighters and had to wait in the street for three hours before they could get in.

The chef was cooking about four kilograms of dried chillies at the time.

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