Ex Marine admits planting bombs in London’s legal district
A former Royal Marine has admitted plotting two bombs in the heart of London’s legal district.
Michael Broddle, 45, placed two separate objects referred to as ‘device 1’ and ‘device 2’ at Gray’s Inn, one of four Inns of Court in central London, on the 14 and 21 September last year.
His son Joshua Broddle, 20, as well as a 17-year-old, who cannot named, are also charged with two counts of conspiracy to place an article with intent in relation to the incidents.
Broddle, from Hounslow, west London, also faces two charges of possessing an explosive substance.
He served as a Royal Marine commando for more than 11 years between 1994 and 2005.
Michael and Joshua Broddle and Joshua appeared in court via videolink from HMP Wandsworth while the 17-year-old, who is on bail, attended in person.
Dressed in a grey T-Shirt and sporting arm tattoos, Broddle entered guilty pleas to all the charges.
His barrister, Christopher Martin, said: ‘He does not accept that he conspired with these two co-defendants.’
The 17-year-old has denied two counts of placing an article with intent and a single count of possessing an illegal sentence.
His trial date is fixed for 25 October at the old Bailey.
Joshua Broddle, from Houslow, west London, is charged with two counts of placing an article with intent but has yet to enter pleas.
Judge Mark Lucraft bailed Joshua Broddle ahead of a further hearing on May 6.
