Moment ULEZ camera EXPLODES in the street sending metal shrapnel blasting into cars and homes – as police hunt vigilante
Police have launched an investigation after a ULEZ camera exploded in the street, sending shrapnel flying into cars and houses as police hunt for the Blade Runner vigilante.
Video surveillance shows the moment the camera catches fire, causing sparks and debris to rain down and damage nearby cars and homes.
Officers were called to a residential street in Sidcup, south-east London, on Wednesday evening following reports of an explosion at a ULEZ camera.
At 6:47 p.m., police and firefighters arrived at the scene. No one was injured as a result of the explosion.
According to local residents, the camera was “cut down” a few hours after installation and later exploded. Metro police are reportedly investigating whether the explosion was caused by an “explosive device.”
Forensic experts are pictured at the scene of Thursday’s explosion.
The wreckage of the ULEZ camera was photographed at the site shortly after the explosion
The camera was allegedly turned off just hours after it was installed during lunch on Wednesday.
Police, firefighters and forensic experts attended the scene in Sidcup on Wednesday evening.
No arrests have been made but inquiries are ongoing and the Met has asked anyone with relevant information that could assist the investigation to contact it.
The section of road is today cordoned off by police as investigations continue.
Each end of the cordon is guarded by uniformed officers who offer citizens alternative routes and escort residents in and out.
Two yellow police tents were erected at the scene, manned by investigators in blue overalls.
A 32-year-old construction worker, who asked not to be named, said the power supply attached to the camera ended up in the back of his black van.
The explosion left a hole in the side of his Citroen van, which he had recently bought, because his other work vehicle was not ULEZ compliant.
The wooden fence was also damaged by flying shrapnel, as well as a passing vehicle, which had one of its front panels damaged.
The resident said: “When I returned home from work, I noticed that the camera had been cut down. It was only a few hours before it was vandalized.
“I was in the house when I heard a strong explosion. I walked outside and saw a hole in the side of my van.
“I can’t believe this happened. I only bought this van a few months ago as the other one was not ULEZ compliant.
“I don’t know who will pay for the repairs or what my insurance company will say.”
He added: “I am completely against the expansion of ULEZ. If I hadn’t changed my van, commuting to work would cost me £400 a month.
“But someone could have died as a result of the explosion.” I don’t know if it was a homemade device or something electrical that triggered it.
While the investigation continued, a dozen forensic experts searched the area around the ULEZ cell.
Several yellow plastic markers were installed along the road where shrapnel from the explosion fell.
Residents were not told what caused the explosion, but the number of police at the scene led to speculation that it was a homemade bomb.
One resident said their three-year-old child’s room was littered with rubble after the explosion, which shattered several windows.
As part of the investigation, detectives conducted door-to-door inquiries and seized CCTV from doorbell cameras.
One resident said: “The police took all my camera footage. It caught everything.
“Everyone on the road heard this huge explosion. It felt like the house was shaking.
“I think we knew the camera had been turned off and one of my neighbors said he saw sparks coming out of it.
“But with so many police around, you have to wonder if something else caused the explosion. It was so loud it sounded like a bomb went off.”
Although the road remained closed to traffic and pedestrians, there was no sign of any energy company at the scene.
Police set up two blue tents along the road while forensic teams in blue jumpsuits were on their hands and knees combing front gardens for evidence.
One local resident said she was putting her small child to bed when the explosion rocked her home, located near the cordoned off zone.
She said: “It really felt like the whole house was shaking. I thought it might be a cabinet that had fallen over, but then I looked out the window and discovered that there were others outside.
“It’s really very scary and nothing like this has ever happened before.”
Another neighbor, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s usually a very busy road with people walking their dogs. It’s a miracle that no one was hurt.
“The noise of the explosion was loud. I’d never heard anything like it and it scared me a little.
“I really hope whoever did this is caught before any innocent people are injured.”
Police said the road will remain closed until forensic teams complete their work this evening.
Residents in the Willersley Avenue area reported hearing a “loud bang” just before 7pm last night.
In a Facebook post, local residents said the explosion damaged two cars and broke the windows of a nearby house.
He Lia wrote: “My neighbor’s windows broke because they were right outside, like my 3 year old’s room (windows), debris and shrapnel everywhere.”
Another social media user said their three-year-old child was “traumatized” by the incident.
The resident said the camera was installed around midday and exploded just six and a half hours later, adding: “I was told the level of destruction to his room was significant and shrapnel was lodged inside.” structures.
“Things went through our neighbors’ cars. Is this humanity?
No arrests have been made, but the investigation continues, police said.
According to local residents, the camera was “cut down” six hours after installation, and about 90 minutes later it exploded.
Local residents said their homes were littered with debris after the explosion, but there were no reports of casualties.
“Is it the camera itself that is dangerous or the people who don’t like it. My poor child and neighbors were victims!”
One anonymous commenter stated that the camera exploded when someone turned it off, causing the electrical box to explode. This is not confirmed.
According to them, the debris hit a passing car, a stationary van and a wall, and also narrowly missed getting caught on a bus.
Another local resident, Anna Newman, compared the noise to that of a WWII bomb, writing: “Heard it in Welling. Why the hell did they blow it up? It was like defusing a World War II bomb!”
Latest figures show the Met has recorded almost 1,000 crimes linked to ULEZ cameras.
This included 220 reports of camera theft and 767 cameras being damaged.
More than 2,800 cameras have been installed as part of the ULEZ expansion program that came into effect earlier this year.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Police were called to Willersley Avenue, Sidcup, at approximately 6.47pm on Wednesday, December 6, following reports of an explosion at a ULEZ camera.
“Officers attended along with colleagues from the London Fire Brigade.
“No harm done. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
“Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is encouraged to call 101 quoting CAD 5819/06DEC.
“Similarly, anyone who sees anyone or anything suspicious on or on a ULEZ camera should not approach and should contact the police.”