Two men have been arrested by officers investigating an explosion in which a ULEZ camera and surrounding property were damaged.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command arrested a 60-year-old and a 61-year-old over the incident in Sidcup, southeast London.
They are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or property, with the 61-year-old also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
Nobody was injured in the explosion but vehicles and property were damaged.
The camera had been installed on the road on 6 December and was cut down later in the day, one and a half hours before it blew up.
A low-sophistication improvised explosive device caused the blast, police said.
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Moment explosion damages ULEZ camera
Pic@dannydervito/X
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry said: “The explosion could easily have had far more harmful consequences, and today’s arrests highlight just how seriously the Met is treating the incident.
“My local officers are continuing to work with and support the Counter Terrorism Command who are leading the investigation due to their specialism in dealing with incidents involving the use of explosives.”
Both men remain in custody as searches are ongoing at two addresses in Sidcup and Horsham, West Sussex.
After the explosion, a spokesman for the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This grotesquely irresponsible behaviour puts both lives and property at risk.”
With the aim of improving London’s air quality, the mayor expanded the ULEZ zone in August covering all boroughs in Greater London.
Read more:
London’s low emission zones have improved air quality
The move sparked fierce opposition and police have recorded more than 1,000 crimes linked to ULEZ cameras being stolen or vandalised.
Motorists have to pay a £12.50 daily fee to drive in the zone if their car does not meet emissions standards.
The cameras are used to track vehicles and check if they need to pay.
