Kevin Rees, 63, is on trial accused of making and planting an explosive device which destroyed a ULEZ camera on Willersley Avenue, Sidcup, on December 6, 2023.
Prosecutor Simon Denison KC told Woolwich Crown Court that the bomb was made from a metal cylinder filled with explosive powder.
After another activist cut down the camera with a chainsaw, Mr Denison said Rees drove from his home on Harcout Avenue, planted the device, lit the fuse and drove away.
The force of the explosion caused houses to shake whilst shrapnel damaged a parked van and “ripped through” the door of a passing car, narrowly missing a passenger.
The window of a child’s bedroom 28 metres from the blast was damaged, with the blind torn down and debris scattered inside – Mr Denison said that fortunately the room was unoccupied at the time.
Another piece of metal from the camera caused damage to a home on Shuttle Close over 100 metres away.
“No one was in fact caused any injury by this explosion, but it is pure chance that that is so. Someone could so easily have been very seriously injured,” Mr Denison said.
Rees, who is observing proceedings by video link from home, denies a charge of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.
The explosion happened at around 6.15pm and was witnessed by a man who was walking with his partner.
He described seeing a man light a cylinder, causing an orange spark, and then place it on the ground.
The witness said the man then quickly walked away whilst he and his partner went in the opposite direction.
The witness described the explosion as “a massive bang, the noise was so loud and intense that it felt like it caused me to jolt forward”.
Forensic scientists identified low levels of chemicals found in an explosive known as “black powder” commonly used in commercial fireworks.
Rees was arrested on the morning of December 18, 2023, whilst he was dropping his wife at Sidcup Station.
When he was told he was being arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion he asked: “Has this got something to do with the ULEZ Facebook sites I was using?”
His home was searched and packages containing both aluminium powder and iron oxide were discovered – when combined these can cause the low explosive composition thermite.
In his loft police also discovered a price list for various chemicals dated June 2011, with marks alongside some chemicals which could be used to manufacture explosives.
“He was clearly a man who had an active interest in chemicals which could be used to make homemade explosives,” Mr Denison said.
Police also found three homemade stun guns – he denies three further charges of possessing a prohibited weapon in relation to these.
Mr Denison said: “Police have examined Mr Rees’ social media. It showed him to be someone strongly opposed to ULEZ cameras and the ULEZ scheme.
“He was someone who informed others of new cameras being put up and encouraged the damage or destruction of ULEZ cameras and celebrated it when it happened.”
Rees had set up his own Facebook group called “Ulez Camaras” [sic] and posted on it “be really careful, sure the bill look at these sites”.
The court heard that in September 2023 someone messaged Rees: “Hiya mate – I’m interested in trimming some trees. Can you point me in the right direction?”
Rees replied: “Google Julies maps theres [sic] links to all the trees that need pruning.”
Mr Denison said the terms “trees” and “pruning” are commonly used in anti-ULEZ posts to refer to camera polls and cutting them down.
Julies maps is a site that shows the location of every ULEZ camera.
The court heard that in November 2023 Rees messaged someone saying: “That thing I made on the pole is mad. I’m making a less powerful one.”
He received a reply: “Lol, you’re the Terminator.”
Rees responded: “The Exterminator.”
On his phone were deleted photos of the camera on Willersley Avenue being installed as well as screenshots of Facebook posts about the explosion.
CCTV was captured of the individual who planted the bomb but Rees denies the person in the footage is him.
Mr Denison told the jury: “The defendant denies that he was the person who caused the explosion.
