Edgware Man Jailed For Bomb Plot
Robert Kovacs received a 29-year sentence for attempting to murder someone with a homemade explosive.
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From the archive. This story was written up on 29 July 2026 from reporting first published on 21 May 2026, which is the date shown above. We took up the back catalogue of the local titles we read when this site launched, so the events are older than the page.
Robert Kovacs, 39, of Tenby Road, Edgware, has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for a "real attempt to kill someone" using a homemade bomb. He was convicted of attempted murder, making an explosive substance with intent, and acting with intent to cause an explosion at St Albans Crown Court on 21 May.
Discovery and Investigation
The incident occurred in August of last year when Hertfordshire Police received reports of a suspicious object beneath a car parked on a driveway in Cowley Hill, Borehamwood. A 100-metre cordon was established, and nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution while bomb squad officers examined the device. Kovacs, who was known to the intended victim, was arrested two days later and has been held in custody since. Detective Inspector Caeva Taylor of Herts Police described the act as "deliberate, targeted and extremely dangerous" and stated it was fortunate the device was discovered before detonation.
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Sentencing Remarks
HHJ Mann KC, presiding over the sentencing, remarked that the case involved a "pre-planned real attempt to kill someone using a bomb." He added that the device was crafted in a way that it would explode and constituted a genuine attempt to end a life. Detective Inspector Taylor welcomed the conviction and sentence, noting that it reflects the gravity of the offences and expressing hope that the intended victim and their family find some reassurance in Kovacs' lengthy prison term.
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Questions this report answers
+How long was Robert Kovacs sentenced for?
Robert Kovacs was sentenced to 29 years in prison. This reflects the severity of his crimes, which included attempted murder using a homemade bomb, making an explosive substance with intent, and intending to cause an explosion.
+What did Robert Kovacs do to be jailed?
Robert Kovacs was jailed for attempting to murder someone with a homemade explosive device. He placed the bomb under a car in Borehamwood, which led to a large cordon and evacuations before police discovered and disarmed it.
+When did the incident involving the homemade bomb happen?
The incident occurred in August of last year. Hertfordshire Police received reports of a suspicious object under a car in Cowley Hill, Borehamwood, leading to a major emergency response and Kovacs' eventual arrest two days later.
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