Ex-UK army chef jailed for ‘terror’-related offence | Crime News
Former British Army Chef Sentenced for Possessing Weapons Intended for Terrorism
A former British Army chef was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for possessing weapons intended for terrorist purposes, a Sheffield Crown Court judge ruled on Wednesday.
Mark Broadhurst, 28, received the sentence following revelations from a police investigation that uncovered his online communications expressing racist views and intentions to sell homemade firearms to far-right groups. His arrest occurred in September 2024, when authorities discovered a cache of weapons at his home, which included knives, crossbows, black powder, ammunition, air pistols, and an improvised cannon.
During the investigation, police noted that Broadhurst was part of an online chat group with three other individuals who were convicted last year for planning attacks on mosques and synagogues, motivated by what they believed to be an impending “race war.”
Frank Ferguson, head of the special crime division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), emphasized the seriousness of Broadhurst’s actions, stating he exhibited a clear interest in violence and in developing dangerous weapons capable of inflicting significant harm.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, who oversees counterterrorism policing in the northeastern region, described Broadhurst as possessing an “extreme right-wing mindset” and noted his proactive efforts to acquire components for explosives.
While Broadhurst pleaded guilty to charges of firearm possession and possessing an explosive under suspicious circumstances, he denied that these were intended for terrorist purposes. However, the judge determined that Broadhurst’s offenses were linked to terrorism.
His conviction occurs amid a rise in racial tensions and hate crimes within the UK, with marginalized communities facing increased targeting. Earlier this year, British police arrested 12 individuals connected to an extreme right-wing terrorism threat aimed at an Islamic event in eastern England. Six months prior, UK prosecutors reported handling the highest volume of hate crime cases referred by police in the agency’s history.
