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Blast suspect was 'radicalised' | Blast suspect was 'radicalised' |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man arrested after an explosion at an Exeter restaurant has "a history of mental illness" and was a recent convert to Islam, police have said. | A man arrested after an explosion at an Exeter restaurant has "a history of mental illness" and was a recent convert to Islam, police have said. |
Nicky Reilly, 22, from Plymouth, suffered serious facial injuries when a device detonated at the Princesshay shopping centre in the city. | Nicky Reilly, 22, from Plymouth, suffered serious facial injuries when a device detonated at the Princesshay shopping centre in the city. |
He is now in police custody in hospital and officers have also searched an address linked to him in Plymouth. | |
Anti-terror police and security services are assisting the inquiry. | |
Mr Reilly was arrested after the explosion at 1250 BST on Thursday in the Giraffe restaurant in the £230m shopping development, which is one of Exeter's main attractions. | |
CCTV footage taken from a nearby camera appears to show him emerging from the cafe with blood pouring down his face before his arrest. | |
No-one else was hurt in the explosion at the restaurant, which was busy at the time and is popular with families. | |
Another device, which did not go off, was found outside the premises. | |
After the incident, officers evacuated the city's bus station - which is about half a mile away - and extended an exclusion cordon 100 metres around the scene. However, police have now re-opened the city centre though Giraffe remains closed. | |
We believe despite his weak and vulnerable illness he was radicalised and taken advantage of Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville | We believe despite his weak and vulnerable illness he was radicalised and taken advantage of Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville |
Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said: "Our investigation so far indicates Reilly, who had a history of mental illness, had adopted the Islamic faith. | Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Constable Tony 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 a flat 40 miles away in King Street, Plymouth which was linked to Reilly. | |
They confirmed 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 | Second device |
Chief Constable Stephen Otter said one device exploded in the restaurant and another was found nearby. | |
The second device was made safe by a bomb disposal team. | The second device was made safe by a bomb disposal team. |
The explosion at Giraffe happened at about 1250 BST | The explosion at Giraffe happened at about 1250 BST |
Mr Otter said: "The injured man had one of the explosive devices on him, which partially went 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 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." |
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." |
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. |
Are you in Exeter? Did you witness the explosion or the aftermath? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in Exeter? Did you witness the explosion or the aftermath? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
You can also send pictures and video to: | You can also send pictures and video to: |
yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |