Man convicted of causing explosion that blew up ULEZ camera

A man who deliberately blew up a ULEZ camera in south-east London has been convicted of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

The investigation identified Kevin Rees, aged 63, as the person who destroyed the camera on 6 December 2023 due to his opposition to the ULEZ scheme.

Officers found that Rees used a home-made bomb - a metal cylinder filled with explosive powder - to cause the explosion, which damaged cars and property up to 100m away, including a child’s bedroom.

Detective Superintendent James Derham, who leads local policing in the Bexley area, said:

“It was miraculous that nobody was killed or seriously injured in the large explosion caused by Rees.

“He showed a complete disregard for the welfare and safety of the people who live in, or were travelling through, the area at the time of the explosion – all because he was unhappy with the ULEZ scheme.

“His conviction has been possible due to the commitment and professionalism of our CTP London Detectives, supported by our frontline policing colleagues in Bexley.

“I’d like to thank the local community for their support and understanding while we responded and investigated this incident, and I hope this sends a very strong message of the dangers and consequences of using home-made explosives.

“Damage of any kind is completely unacceptable, and this particular incident demonstrates the very serious consequences for those responsible when taken to this extreme.”

A jury at Woolwich Crown Court heard how the investigation team identified Rees had travelled in his Smart car from his home in Sidcup to Shuttle Close shortly after 6.20pm on 6 December 2023.

The ULEZ camera was installed earlier that day, but in a completely unrelated incident, had been cut down by another individual, who was also identified and convicted by the same investigation team.

Rees walked the short distance from his car to the camera and then planted the device and lit a fuse. He was then seen by a witness walking quickly away from the scene.

The explosion damaged a van opposite and blew out the tyre of a nearby car. Shrapnel was also fired through a passing car into the bottom of a passenger seat.

The explosion damaged a nearby wall, front porch, shed and Wendy house. A piece of metal was also carried more than 100m and damaged the window frame of a child’s bedroom. Despite the extensive damage, fortunately nobody was injured.

The remains of the explosive device were forensically analysed and it was identified that ‘black powder’ had been used.

Rees was identified as the suspect and he was arrested by CTP London officers on 18 December 2023 and his home address was searched.

Among the items the police found was a sealed postal package addressed to Rees containing aluminium powder, as well as a plastic bag with a quantity of iron oxide – both of which can be used to form low explosive compositions.

Further items were found in his loft which indicated Rees’s interest in chemicals that could be used to create explosives.

Detectives also analysed Rees’s social media activity and found he had posted numerous times about ULEZ cameras and encouraged the damaging of them.

The investigation team found on his phone a photograph taken on 6 December 2023 of the camera in Willersley Avenue being installed. He deleted that photograph on 7 December.

Officers identified screenshots on his device of Facebook posts on 6 December related to the explosion, and a photograph taken in Willersley Avenue after the explosion when the emergency services were present. He deleted all of those on 8 December.

Also found at his address were three home-made stun guns. Rees was also convicted by the jury of three counts of having a prohibited weapon.

Rees (22.08.1962) of Harcourt Avenue, Sidcup, will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court at a later date.

A CCTV clip of the explosion and pictures of the damage caused can be downloaded here https://mps.box.com/s/lee1k3nqsuipyyyz8qlopt5w1c10g8he