Kevin Rees, known as “The Exterminator” was convicted of setting off the bomb in south east London, sending shrapnel from his homemade device in a nearby kids’ bedroom
This is the terrifying moment a bomb was planted and detonated on a ULEZ camera in London, causing a major explosion. The man who was suspected of carrying out the attack has since been arrested and is now facing jail time.
Motorists were stunned when the bomb was set off on a Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) camera designed to measure the carbon emissions cars make on busy London roads. Shocking CCTV footage captured the exact moment the bomb went off, sending shrapnel into the air and smashing into a nearby kids’ bedroom.
Now, Kevin Rees, 63, has been convicted on making, planting and detonating the explosive at the camera in the heinous crime. He could now be facing some severe time behind bars as a result of his protest at the charges.
According to the Sun, dramatic footage captured the moment the bomb was set off in the sleepy suburb of Sidcup on the evening of December 6, 2023. In the video clip, traffic can be seen slowly moving past before a huge ball of light can be seen, with sparks flying everywhere.
Debris from the camera can be seen raining down in the wake of the detonation as traffic came to an immediate stop trying to comprehend what they had just seen. Smoke was seen billowing into the air, as CCTV footage showed the damage that the blast caused not only to the ULEZ camera but to the surrounding buildings next to it.
The Met Police, who investigated the incident, said the explosion left nearby cars damaged, with some homes as far as 100 metres away being hit with shrapnel. The blast was also so strong that it tore a hole in the van parked opposite the camera, as well as ripping out another car’s tyre.
Surprisingly, despite huge scale of the bomb, no one was injured in the incident. Woolwich Crown Court heard how the camera had been installed just hours earlier, but had already been cut down by another person.
Witnesses appearing in court said they had seen Rees, known as “The Exterminator” online, fleeing from the scene, with CCTV also picking him up running away from the site of the explosion. He was later identified as a suspect and arrested by Counter Terrorism Police officers on December 18, 2023.
In their investigation, the force found that Kevin had created a homemade bomb formed of a metal cylinder and explosive powder. When searching through his home, investigators also found packages containing aluminium powder and a plastic bag with iron oxide inside; these are components that when combined can be used to create “low” levels of explosions.
Throughout the case, Rees consistently denied being involved with the plot, but social media posts unearthed by police found him to be vehemently against ULEZ cameras. He could be seen advocating for their destruction, encouraging people to take them down where they could in several other posts.
Rees was eventually convicted of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property on Wednesday (January 28). He was also found guilty by a jury of three counts of having a prohibited weapon after police also found three home-made stun guns.
Speaking on the incident, Detective Superintendent James Derham of the Met Police, 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.”
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