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City restaurant blast injures one City restaurant blast injures one
(20 minutes later)
An explosion at a restaurant in Exeter has injured at least one person.An explosion at a restaurant in Exeter has injured at least one person.
Police said an explosive device went off at about 1250 BST after a man walked into the Giraffe restaurant in the Princesshay shopping mall.Police said an explosive device went off at about 1250 BST after a man walked into the Giraffe restaurant in the Princesshay shopping mall.
A force spokesman said firearms officers have been sent to the scene as well as specialist search teams.A force spokesman said firearms officers have been sent to the scene as well as specialist search teams.
The spokesman added they could not not rule out the possibility of another device and said bomb disposal experts had been alerted. He added they could not rule out the possibility of another device and bomb disposal experts had arrived. Parts of the city have now been evacuated.
CCTV footage
Police are currently evacuating the city's bus station.
They have also extended the exclusion cordon to include the Princesshay centre, Beford Sqare, High Street, Queen Street and Paris Street.
It is being treated as a serious incident and police have asked stores in the area to retain any CCTV footage in case it becomes relevent at a later date.
Police procedure is to clear the area, confirm it is clear, cordon it off, control the situation and check for more devices.
No-one else was injured in the incident, which happened at a time when the recently opened centre would have been crowded with shoppers.No-one else was injured in the incident, which happened at a time when the recently opened centre would have been crowded with shoppers.
It was definitely an explosion Trudy, eyewitnessIt was definitely an explosion Trudy, eyewitness
No details are known about the injuried man. No details are known about the injured man.
Juliet Joffe, a director of Giraffe, confirmed to the BBC a "small explosion" had occurred in the restaurant.
"No-one was injured apart from the person who caused the explosion and the restaurant was evacuated quickly and efficiently."
Eyewitness Peter Lacey who was in the restaurant with his wife told BBC News: "There were three explosions. It is my impression they sounded more like gunshots than a bomb, like a lightbulb exploding.Eyewitness Peter Lacey who was in the restaurant with his wife told BBC News: "There were three explosions. It is my impression they sounded more like gunshots than a bomb, like a lightbulb exploding.
"They came from a locked toilet.""They came from a locked toilet."
Another person who would only be identified as Trudy, said she was also in the restaurant at the time of the incident.Another person who would only be identified as Trudy, said she was also in the restaurant at the time of the incident.
"It was definitely an explosion, it sounded like the lights were exploding," she said."It was definitely an explosion, it sounded like the lights were exploding," she said.
"There was a lot of glass. I think it came from the toilet.""There was a lot of glass. I think it came from the toilet."
She said "There was concern, I wouldn't say there was panic, everyone got up and the staff were very good getting everyone out."She said "There was concern, I wouldn't say there was panic, everyone got up and the staff were very good getting everyone out."
'Careful evaluation''Careful evaluation'
Devon and Cornwall Police said more resources are being sent to the area.Devon and Cornwall Police said more resources are being sent to the area.
Assistant Chief Constable Bob Spencer said: "We are carrying out a careful evacuation of the premises using the police and other emergency services that are at the scene.Assistant Chief Constable Bob Spencer said: "We are carrying out a careful evacuation of the premises using the police and other emergency services that are at the scene.
"We will update the people of Exeter about what has happened as soon as we can."We will update the people of Exeter about what has happened as soon as we can.
"In the meantime, I'd urge motorists to stay away from the city centre area and road delays are likely.""In the meantime, I'd urge motorists to stay away from the city centre area and road delays are likely."
Commenting on reports of the possibility of further devices, ACC Spencer told BBC News: "There's always that potential." Commenting on reports of the possibility of further devices he told BBC News: "There's always that potential."
The £230m Princesshay development officially opened last September. The scheme has been heralded as the biggest single investment in regeneration in the city's history.The £230m Princesshay development officially opened last September. The scheme has been heralded as the biggest single investment in regeneration in the city's history.
It contains a mix of shops, restaurants and apartments.It contains a mix of shops, restaurants and apartments.


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