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| Man admits restaurant bomb attack | Man admits restaurant bomb attack |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Muslim convert has admitted launching a failed suicide nail-bomb attack on a Devon restaurant. | A Muslim convert has admitted launching a failed suicide nail-bomb attack on a Devon restaurant. |
| Nicky Reilly, 22, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to attempted murder at Exeter's Giraffe restaurant on 22 May. | Nicky Reilly, 22, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to attempted murder at Exeter's Giraffe restaurant on 22 May. |
| Reilly, from Plymouth, had been preparing the attack when a bomb went off in his hands in a toilet cubicle. | Reilly, from Plymouth, had been preparing the attack when a bomb went off in his hands in a toilet cubicle. |
| Police believe Reilly, said to have learning difficulties, was "preyed upon and radicalised by others". He will be sentenced on 21 November. | Police believe Reilly, said to have learning difficulties, was "preyed upon and radicalised by others". He will be sentenced on 21 November. |
| The court heard counter-terrorism police were still hunting for two unidentified people who encouraged Reilly after contacting him via an extremist website. | The court heard counter-terrorism police were still hunting for two unidentified people who encouraged Reilly after contacting him via an extremist website. |
| 'Martyrdom ambition' | 'Martyrdom ambition' |
| The judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, said: "There is evidence from materials seized that he became increasingly drawn to violent action in support of fellow Muslims in revenge for perceived persecution, and to the idea of himself personally becoming a martyr. | The judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith, said: "There is evidence from materials seized that he became increasingly drawn to violent action in support of fellow Muslims in revenge for perceived persecution, and to the idea of himself personally becoming a martyr. |
| "He told the police that he had long nursed an ambition to become a martyr." | "He told the police that he had long nursed an ambition to become a martyr." |
| The judge said Reilly, who appeared in court under the name Mohammad Rashid Saeed-Alim, had also considered targeting a Plymouth police station and Devonport dockyard. | |
| Reilly's mother Kim was devastated when she found out about the bombing | Reilly's mother Kim was devastated when she found out about the bombing |
| Reilly's mother Kim said he was an "easy target, easy prey" for radicalisation. | |
| She said he would have had instructions or guidance from someone, as he was thought to have a mental age of 10 and suffered from mental illness. | |
| Detectives believe Reilly was groomed by extremists he met near his home in King Street, Plymouth. | Detectives believe Reilly was groomed by extremists he met near his home in King Street, Plymouth. |
| Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said: "He was preyed upon, radicalised, and taken advantage of." | |
| Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said Reilly had begun to prepare for the attack in early 2008 and had bought a suicide vest. | |
| 'Encouragement' | 'Encouragement' |
| During this time, Reilly was in frequent touch with two unidentified people, with whom he had discussed his plans and received a "certain amount" of encouragement, the judge said. | |
| "There was some debate, which is revealed by comments on the computer, about what sort of person should be targeted in due course, whether public servants, such as police officers, or other public servants or ordinary citizens," he said. class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7669897.stm">Bomber who brought fear to Devon class="" href="/1/hi/england/devon/7664316.stm">Nicky was 'easy prey' says mother class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7671415.stm">In pictures: Exeter bomber | |
| "In the end the decision was made to target ordinary citizens in a restaurant." | "In the end the decision was made to target ordinary citizens in a restaurant." |
| The court heard Reilly made the bombs in glass bottles, one using caustic soda and the other kerosene, which he then filled with about 500 nails. | |
| He travelled to Exeter by bus on the morning of 22 May with six bottles, three of which contained caustic soda, and three kerosene and another chemical contained in drain cleaner, the judge said. | He travelled to Exeter by bus on the morning of 22 May with six bottles, three of which contained caustic soda, and three kerosene and another chemical contained in drain cleaner, the judge said. |
| "As he prepared the caustic soda devices in the toilet of the restaurant, they began to explode. He was subsequently, as the world knows, arrested and injured himself." | |
| Reilly had planned to run into the restaurant holding three bombs to his stomach, but the first one reacted prematurely and he could not get out, the court heard. | Reilly had planned to run into the restaurant holding three bombs to his stomach, but the first one reacted prematurely and he could not get out, the court heard. |
| Prosecutor Stuart Baker said: "His recollection now is that he was unable to open the lock of the cubicle door and come out, by which time the first device had already exploded." | Prosecutor Stuart Baker said: "His recollection now is that he was unable to open the lock of the cubicle door and come out, by which time the first device had already exploded." |
| Appearing in court via a video link, Reilly pleaded guilty to attempted murder and preparing a terrorist attack. | |
| Kerim Fuad, defending, told the judge he wished to present a statement and a psychiatric report to the court. | Kerim Fuad, defending, told the judge he wished to present a statement and a psychiatric report to the court. |
| He said: "There is much I wish to advance on behalf of this defendant's unusual and complex personal background which led to this ugly and dangerous incident." | He said: "There is much I wish to advance on behalf of this defendant's unusual and complex personal background which led to this ugly and dangerous incident." |
| Reilly's mother wept in the public gallery above the court as she watched her son on a plasma screen. | Reilly's mother wept in the public gallery above the court as she watched her son on a plasma screen. |
| He was remanded in custody until sentencing at the Old Bailey. | He was remanded in custody until sentencing at the Old Bailey. |