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Two quizzed over restaurant blast | Two quizzed over restaurant blast |
(20 minutes later) | |
Armed police have detained two men in an operation linked to an explosion in a restaurant in Exeter. | Armed police have detained two men in an operation linked to an explosion in a restaurant in Exeter. |
Officers targeted the men at a cafe in the Old Town Street area of Plymouth. One man was arrested and the other is described as "helping police". | Officers targeted the men at a cafe in the Old Town Street area of Plymouth. One man was arrested and the other is described as "helping police". |
The operation is linked to the explosion in Exeter, for which Nicky Reilly, 22, has been arrested. | The operation is linked to the explosion in Exeter, for which Nicky Reilly, 22, has been arrested. |
Meanwhile, sources close to the investigation revealed police were aware of Mr Reilly prior to his arrest. | Meanwhile, sources close to the investigation revealed police were aware of Mr Reilly prior to his arrest. |
BBC Home Affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford says Mr Reilly became known to officers because he was close to a group which police had been gathering information on. | |
It is also understood Mr Reilly received a text message before he travelled to Exeter, which could be significant to the investigation. | |
In Friday's operation, armed police targeted two men who were drinking at the Bagatelle cafe in Plymouth. | |
Eyewitness Ed Hayward describes the arrests | |
Tony Merrick, who works nearby, told BBC News: "There were about 25-30 officers in 10 vehicles. | Tony Merrick, who works nearby, told BBC News: "There were about 25-30 officers in 10 vehicles. |
"They sealed off the area and two men in the cafe were surrounded." | "They sealed off the area and two men in the cafe were surrounded." |
Rebecca Pope, 25, who was looking out of a window above the cafe, said the two men were put in paper suits before being taken away in unmarked cars. | |
Police arrested Mr Reilly, from Plymouth, on Thursday after an explosive device detonated inside the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter. | Police arrested Mr Reilly, from Plymouth, on Thursday after an explosive device detonated inside the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter. |
It is thought there were two further devices which were recovered from the scene and made safe. | It is thought there were two further devices which were recovered from the scene and made safe. |
The BBC's Daniel Sandford said the devices contained nails, drain cleaner, kerosene, an organic oil and aluminium foil. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford said the devices contained nails, drain cleaner, kerosene, an organic oil and aluminium foil. |
'Preyed upon' | |
Officers later revealed Mr Reilly, who was injured in the blast, had a history of mental illness. | Officers later revealed Mr Reilly, who was injured in the blast, had a history of mental illness. |
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said police believed Mr Reilly had adopted the Islamic faith and had been "preyed upon" and "radicalised". | Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said police believed Mr Reilly had adopted the Islamic faith and had been "preyed upon" and "radicalised". |
However, Devon and Cornwall Police have not yet explained what they mean by "radicalised", nor to what extent Mr Reilly was "preyed upon". | However, Devon and Cornwall Police have not yet explained what they mean by "radicalised", nor to what extent Mr Reilly was "preyed upon". |
Nicky Reilly suffered facial injuries in Thursday's blast | |
Neighbours of Mr Reilly have told BBC News he converted to Islam changed his name to Mohammed Rasheed. | |
Police said Mr Reilly boarded a double-decker Stagecoach bus number X38 in Bretonside bus station, Plymouth, on Thursday morning and have appealed to passengers on the service to contact them. | |
"We know that between 1026 and 1040 yesterday morning 54 other passengers boarded the same bus and travelled to the main bus station in Paris Street, Exeter, arriving just after midday," a spokesman said. | |
The explosion took place at about 1250 BST. | |
He was taken to hospital following the explosion where he remains under police guard. | |
There were also a series of security alerts in Plymouth earlier on Friday afternoon when the area around the city's main library was cordoned off. | There were also a series of security alerts in Plymouth earlier on Friday afternoon when the area around the city's main library was cordoned off. |
The cordon has now been lifted. | The cordon has now been lifted. |