Man charged over IED Ulez camera explosion in South East London

A man has been charged in connection with the explosion of an Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) camera in south-east London.

Kevin Rees, 62, of Harcourt Avenue, Sidcup, was arrested by counter-terrorism police at around 6.45pm on December 6 after a low-sophisticated improvised explosive device (IED) damaged the camera in Willersley Avenue, Sidcup.

He has been charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, contrary to section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

The Metropolitan Police said he has also been charged with three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 5(1)(b) Firearms Act 1968.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 11.

The investigation into the incident was carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command due to their specialism in dealing with incidents involving the use of explosives.

No one was injured in the explosion, but vehicles and a home were damaged.

The camera, which had been installed earlier in the day, was disabled for about an hour and a half before it exploded.

Stephen Richard Harwood-Stamper, 62, has been charged with criminal damage, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, and using a false number plate while driving, contrary to section 44 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 .

The Met said he was initially arrested in connection with the explosion but was subsequently released and instead investigated in connection with the separate incident of alleged criminal damage to the camera.

No connection is being made between the two incidents at this time.

Harwood-Stamper will appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on November 27.

Chief Inspector Trevor Lawry, Chief Inspector of Local Police for the Bexley area, said: “We know that this incident caused significant local concern at the time. Local officials have continued to support the investigation team in diligently gathering evidence in this case, working closely with the CPS, leading to the laying of these charges.

“The criminal process must now take its course and I would therefore ask people not to speculate further as we await the conclusion of this case in court.”