An investigation has been launched after a Ulez camera was destroyed by an “improvised explosive device”.
Met Police were called to Willersley Avenue, Sidcup, shortly after 6.45pm following reports of a blast, which damaged nearby homes and vehicles.
The investigation into the incident is being led by Counter Terrorism Command which includes those with specialist expertise in explosives.
However, the Met Police has confirmed it is not treating the incident as terrorism.
The scheme has proved controversial
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Nearby residents said they were left shaken by the incident. Helia Sinclair, describing the moment it went off as being like something from a “war film” and the PVC on her son’s three-year-old son’s bedroom window had been shattered by the blast, leaving shrapnel scattered across the floor.
She said: “”We couldn’t tell from our Ring camera whether it was a car or an angle grinder – we’ve heard both. At 6.45pm there was a huge flash across my house’s windows and a huge bang. I screamed ‘bomb, bomb’, on the phone to my aunt.
“I first thought it was on the roof of the house, so I jumped on the sofa and hunched myself, then I realised that nothing else was happening, but then all the sirens of the cars around us were going off.”
“Why on earth was a Ulez camera out up on this road? It’s a political issue in London having Ulez so far into Zone 5. If you’re going to fit one, fit one in a sensible place.”
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Nearby residents said they were left shaken by the incident
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Another resident, Christine Wright said: “It was a big explosion, they heard it from miles away. It was unbelievable, everybody came running out. It sounded like a bomb had exploded.
“We’d seen the Ulez camera go up about 12 o’clock in the afternoon. It wasn’t there for long.
“It’s going to keep happening. Maybe they should not be put up in residential areas. The people are speaking, that’s why they’re going down.
“Somebody could have been killed last night if they’d been walking along then. It was dangerous.”
A Ulez camera was targeted in the incident (file pic)
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Detective chief superintendent Trevor Lawry, said: “It is extremely concerning that an explosive device seems to have been deliberately placed in a public place. This could have very easily resulted in members of the public being very seriously injured.
“Because of the seriousness of this incident, we are making urgent enquiries to try and identify anyone involved, and officers with specialist expertise and capability from our Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation.
“This was an extremely dangerous incident that could have resulted in innocent members of the public being injured or worse.
“If you have any information that could assist our investigation, then I would urge you to get in touch immediately.”
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Officers confirmed that no one was injured in the blast.
No arrests have been made in relation to the incident.
Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is urged to call 101 quoting CAD 5819/06DEC.
Bexley Council said: “Whilst our position against the ULEZ expansion is clear we do not condone vandalism or criminal damage of any kind should this prove to be the cause of this incident.”
