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Man faces trial over letter bombs Accused's home a 'bomb factory'
(about 5 hours later)
A primary school caretaker is to go on trial, charged with sending explosive devices through the post. A primary school caretaker accused of injuring eight people in a letter bomb campaign had a bedroom like a "bomb factory", Oxford Crown Court has heard.
Miles Cooper, 27, from Cambridge, denies sending letter bombs to addresses across Britain in January and February, injuring eight people. When officers arrested Miles Cooper, 27, at his home in Cambridge, they found three more devices assembled and packaged, said John Price, prosecuting.
It is alleged they were sent to addresses in Kent, Oxfordshire, London, Swansea, Birmingham and Berkshire. He said references to animal rights on envelopes may have been a smokescreen.
In May, he pleaded not guilty to 11 charges under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 at Oxford Crown Court. Mr Cooper denies charges relating to sending letter bombs to addresses across Britain in January and February.
They included eight counts of causing harm to people with explosives, two of intending to cause harm and one of making an explosive substance. Mr Price told the court the alleged letter bomb campaign had caused widespread public alarm and sparked a large-scale police investigation.
The charges are: He said receptionist Michelle Evans, of Orchid Cellmark, a company which processes DNA samples, was among the first on the receiving end of the letter bombs.
There was a very loud bang and, as a result of the shock, she dropped the envelope and let out a shriek John Price, prosecuting
She had been opening the post on 18 January, as she did every morning, when she came across a "light, spongy" envelope, he said.
Miss Evans opened the envelope with a letter knife and tried to pull out the piece of paper she found inside, the jury heard, but it appeared trapped in the fold.
"She held it at arm's length and tugged at the piece of paper, whereupon the envelope exploded," said Mr Price.
"There was a very loud bang and, as a result of the shock, she dropped the envelope and let out a shriek."
Animal rights
Mr Price said the envelope bore the words "Dr Barry Horne, RIP" - the name of a "notorious animal rights terrorist" who died on a hunger strike.
It also included the address of the Cambridge Labour Party office and a small Animal Liberation Front (ALF) logo.
Mr Price said the bomb squad found the remnants of a small explosive device - "the first of a series of similar devices to be received in the post over the course of that day".
On the same day, LGC Forensics in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham, received similar devices in the post.
Another device was addressed to Alpha Security, sent to the company's boss at his home address in Kent.
'Surveillance society'
Defence barrister Michael Wolkind QC told the jury Mr Cooper did not deny sending the devices but said he was not responsible for the injuries caused.
He sent them because "of an overbearing and over-intrusive surveillance society," Mr Wolkind said.
The charges, which Mr Cooper denies. are:
  • Using an explosive substance in January to "maim or disable" Michelle Evans at a laboratory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire
  • Using an explosive substance in January to "maim or disable" Michelle Evans at a laboratory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire
  • Sending an explosive substance with intent to harm in Abingdon, and another to a laboratory in Birmingham
  • Sending an explosive substance with intent to harm in Abingdon, and another to a laboratory in Birmingham
  • Causing bodily harm in February to Michael and Rosemary Wingfield at an address in Folkestone, Kent
  • Causing bodily harm in February to Michael and Rosemary Wingfield at an address in Folkestone, Kent
  • Causing bodily harm to Maja Kurowald on 5 February at Capita offices - which runs London's congestion charging scheme
  • Causing bodily harm to Maja Kurowald on 5 February at Capita offices - which runs London's congestion charging scheme
  • Causing bodily harm to Richard Gorringe at an accountancy firm in Wokingham, Berkshire
  • Causing bodily harm to Richard Gorringe at an accountancy firm in Wokingham, Berkshire
  • Causing bodily harm to Karen Andrews on 7 February at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea
  • Causing bodily harm to Karen Andrews on 7 February at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea
  • Causing harm to Jean Porter and Christopher Phillips on the same day
  • Causing harm to Jean Porter and Christopher Phillips on the same day
  • Making or possessing an explosive substance on 1 February
  • Making or possessing an explosive substance on 1 February