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MI5 assist restaurant blast probe Blast suspect was 'radicalised'
(40 minutes later)
Anti-terrorist officers and security services are assisting police after an explosive device detonated in a restaurant in Exeter. Police have named a man arrested in connection with an explosion at an Exeter restaurant as 22-year-old Nicky Reilly from Plymouth.
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville from Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Reilly has "a history of mental illness" was a recent convert to Islam.
He said Reilly suffered serious facial injuries following the explosion.
Anti-terrorist officers and security services have been called in to assist police in their investigation.
The device exploded at 1250GMT on Thursday in the Giraffe restaurant at the Princesshay shopping centre.The device exploded at 1250GMT on Thursday in the Giraffe restaurant at the Princesshay shopping centre.
A man who was arrested after the explosion is believed to be a local convert to Islam, police sources say. We believe despite his weak and vulnerable illness he was radicalised and taken advantage of Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville
The 22-year-old man was taken into custody suffering with "slight injuries", police said. Bomb disposal experts attended the scene and made safe two explosive devices.
Mr Melville said: "Our investigation so far indicates Reilly, who had a history of mental illness, had adopted the Islamic faith.
"We believe despite his weak and vulnerable illness he was preyed upon, radicalised and taken advantage of."
After the arrest police officers searched an address in King Street, Plymouth which was linked to Reilly.
They confirmed that he travelled from Plymouth to Exeter by bus and are appealing for anyone who may have seen him over recent weeks to contact them.
Second device
After the device exploded police officers evacuated the city's bus station and extended an exclusion cordon 100 metres around the scene.
Chief Constable Stephen Otter from Devon and Cornwall Police said one device exploded in the restaurant and another was found nearby.Chief Constable Stephen Otter from Devon and Cornwall Police said one device exploded in the restaurant and another was found nearby.
I would not say anything about terrorism at this stage because I do not know Chief Constable Stephen Otter
The second device was made safe by a bomb disposal team.The second device was made safe by a bomb disposal team.
It was revealed the man in custody has injuries which include lacerations to his eye and some facial burning. Devon and Cornwall police hold a news conference
Mr Otter said: "The injured man had one of the explosive devices on him, which partially went off. The other, in the vicinity of the restaurant, did not go off." Mr Otter said: "The injured man had one of the explosive devices on him, which partially went off.
"The other, in the vicinity of the restaurant, did not go off."
"The Devon and Cornwall force was working with the Metropolitan Police as we do with any explosion where we cannot understand why it happened."The Devon and Cornwall force was working with the Metropolitan Police as we do with any explosion where we cannot understand why it happened.
"I would not say anything about terrorism at this stage because I do not know.""I would not say anything about terrorism at this stage because I do not know."
'Gunshot sounds'
Earlier, Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said: "It is far too early to know what the motives were behind the incident."
Officers evacuated the city's bus station and extended an exclusion cordon 100 metres around the scene.
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.
Devon and Cornwall police hold a news conference
"They came from a locked toilet.""They came from a locked toilet."
Alison Fewins, 27, from Exeter, was shopping with her friend, Louise Platt, also 27, when the incident happened.
Ms Fewins said: "We were about three or four shops away when we felt a vibration and heard a noise which we thought was building work.
"I am a bit shaken. It's all a bit scary that it happened here."
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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