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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Accused's home a 'bomb factory' | Accused's home a 'bomb factory' |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| When officers arrested Miles Cooper, 27, at his home in Cambridge, they found three more devices assembled and packaged, said John Price, prosecuting. | When officers arrested Miles Cooper, 27, at his home in Cambridge, they found three more devices assembled and packaged, said John Price, prosecuting. |
| He said references to animal rights on envelopes may have been a smokescreen. | He said references to animal rights on envelopes may have been a smokescreen. |
| Mr Cooper denies charges relating to sending letter bombs to addresses across Britain in January and February. | Mr Cooper denies charges relating to sending letter bombs to addresses across Britain in January and February. |
| Receptionist Michelle Evans opened a letter bomb, the court heard | Receptionist Michelle Evans opened a letter bomb, the court heard |
| 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. | 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. | He sent them because "of an overbearing and over-intrusive surveillance society," Mr Wolkind said. |
| See where the devices went off | See where the devices went off |
| Mr Price told the court the alleged letter bomb campaign had caused widespread public alarm and sparked a large-scale police investigation. | Mr Price told the court the alleged letter bomb campaign had caused widespread public alarm and sparked a large-scale police investigation. |
| 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. | 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. |
| She had been opening the post on 18 January, as she did every morning, when she came across a "light, spongy" envelope, he said. | She had been opening the post on 18 January, as she did every morning, when she came across a "light, spongy" envelope, he said. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "There was a very loud bang and, as a result of the shock, she dropped the envelope and let out a shriek." |
| Animal rights | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | Another device was addressed to Alpha Security, sent to the company's boss at his home address in Kent. |
| The charges, which Mr Cooper denies, are: | The charges, which Mr Cooper denies, are: |
| Using an explosive to cause injury to Michelle Evans at Orchid Cellmark, which processes DNA samples, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on 18 January | Using an explosive to cause injury to Michelle Evans at Orchid Cellmark, which processes DNA samples, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, on 18 January |
| Sending an explosive substance to LGC Forensics in Abingdon, and to Forensic Science Service in Birmingham | Sending an explosive substance to LGC Forensics in Abingdon, and to Forensic Science Service in Birmingham |
| Causing injury to Michael and Rosemary Wingfield at an address in Folkestone, Kent, on 3 February | Causing injury to Michael and Rosemary Wingfield at an address in Folkestone, Kent, on 3 February |
| Causing injury to Maja Kurcwald at the London offices of Capita, which deals with criminal records and London's congestion charge, on 5 February | Causing injury to Maja Kurcwald at the London offices of Capita, which deals with criminal records and London's congestion charge, on 5 February |
| Causing injury to Richard Gorringe at Vantis, which administers speed cameras, in Wokingham, Berkshire, on 6 February | |
| Causing injury to Karen Andrews, Jean Porter and Christopher Phillips at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea on 7 February | Causing injury to Karen Andrews, Jean Porter and Christopher Phillips at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea on 7 February |
| Making an explosive substance | Making an explosive substance |
| Possessing an explosive substance | Possessing an explosive substance |
| Back to top | Back to top |