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Bomber who brought panic to Devon city Bomber who brought panic to Devon city
(about 2 hours later)
By Jon Kay BBC News Nicky Reilly suffers from Asperger's SyndromeWith its tea shops and hanging baskets, Exeter seems an unlikely place for terrorism, but a Muslim convert has admitted a failed suicide bomb attack on a city centre restaurant. By Jon Kay BBC News Nicky Reilly has Asperger's SyndromeWith its tea shops and hanging baskets, Exeter seems an unlikely place for terrorism, but a Muslim convert has admitted a failed suicide bomb attack on a city centre restaurant.
On 22 May, British-born Muslim convert Nicky Reilly came to the city and set off a rucksack device packed with nails and chemicals in the busy Giraffe family restaurant.On 22 May, British-born Muslim convert Nicky Reilly came to the city and set off a rucksack device packed with nails and chemicals in the busy Giraffe family restaurant.
It would have been a shocking attack wherever it had happened, but the fact that it was in Exeter made it all the more extraordinary.It would have been a shocking attack wherever it had happened, but the fact that it was in Exeter made it all the more extraordinary.
Customers remember hearing what sounded like a rifle crack coming from the back of the brand new restaurant, before staff realised a device had detonated in the toilets.Customers remember hearing what sounded like a rifle crack coming from the back of the brand new restaurant, before staff realised a device had detonated in the toilets.
Paul Smith, Exeter's Lord Mayor, was waiting for a lunch table.Paul Smith, Exeter's Lord Mayor, was waiting for a lunch table.
"I thought 'Oh Christ. It's here'," he said."I thought 'Oh Christ. It's here'," he said.
"It's still a big problem for people here to cope with. I mean, this is the south-west of England, for goodness sake.""It's still a big problem for people here to cope with. I mean, this is the south-west of England, for goodness sake."
'No surprise''No surprise'
But terrorism expert Dr Jonathan Githens-Mazer, from the University of Exeter, said nobody should be surprised by the location of the attack.But terrorism expert Dr Jonathan Githens-Mazer, from the University of Exeter, said nobody should be surprised by the location of the attack.
"Britain doesn't end with the M5. Britain doesn't end at the Tamar Bridge heading into Cornwall," he said."Britain doesn't end with the M5. Britain doesn't end at the Tamar Bridge heading into Cornwall," he said.
"We're all Britain. We all face this threat nowadays.""We're all Britain. We all face this threat nowadays."
Because the bomb exploded at the back of the building, only one person was injured - the bomber himself.Because the bomb exploded at the back of the building, only one person was injured - the bomber himself.
CCTV cameras captured the 22-year-old in the moments after the explosion. His face was bleeding from cuts and burns as he stood, looking dazed, outside the restaurant. He was arrested at the scene.CCTV cameras captured the 22-year-old in the moments after the explosion. His face was bleeding from cuts and burns as he stood, looking dazed, outside the restaurant. He was arrested at the scene.
He's just a vulnerable person who has been radicalised Kim Reilly,Mother At the family's council flat 40 miles away in Plymouth, his mother Kim Reilly is still struggling to come to terms with what her son has done.He's just a vulnerable person who has been radicalised Kim Reilly,Mother At the family's council flat 40 miles away in Plymouth, his mother Kim Reilly is still struggling to come to terms with what her son has done.
"Nicky's so vulnerable," she said."Nicky's so vulnerable," she said.
"He's got special needs; he's autistic, he's got Asperger's Syndrome. You've got to know the person to understand.""He's got special needs; he's autistic, he's got Asperger's Syndrome. You've got to know the person to understand."
On the mantelpiece are the cards her son has sent from prison. In them, Reilly sends his mother "love and cuddles".On the mantelpiece are the cards her son has sent from prison. In them, Reilly sends his mother "love and cuddles".
His scribbled, child-like handwriting is a clue to the fact that he has a mental age of 10.His scribbled, child-like handwriting is a clue to the fact that he has a mental age of 10.
Ms Reilly says that ever since he was a little boy, her son has always had obsessions.Ms Reilly says that ever since he was a little boy, her son has always had obsessions.
When he converted to Islam two years ago, she assumed it was just another obsessive phase. She says he became increasingly intolerant of the rest of the family, but that there was no sign of any extremism.When he converted to Islam two years ago, she assumed it was just another obsessive phase. She says he became increasingly intolerant of the rest of the family, but that there was no sign of any extremism.
She believes he was groomed for the job of would-be suicide-bomber.She believes he was groomed for the job of would-be suicide-bomber.
"He's just a vulnerable person who has been radicalised. He was an easy target - easy prey for them.""He's just a vulnerable person who has been radicalised. He was an easy target - easy prey for them."
The police agreed.The police agreed.
'Preyed upon''Preyed upon'
Within hours of the Exeter blast, officers took the unusual step of making a statement about the bomber to the bewildered people of Devon.Within hours of the Exeter blast, officers took the unusual step of making a statement about the bomber to the bewildered people of Devon.
They explained that Reilly was a man with learning difficulties.They explained that Reilly was a man with learning difficulties.
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville told reporters: "We believe he was preyed upon, radicalised and taken advantage of."Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville told reporters: "We believe he was preyed upon, radicalised and taken advantage of."
The BBC has learned the security services were aware of Reilly in the months before the attack.The BBC has learned the security services were aware of Reilly in the months before the attack.
But a source insisted he was "only of peripheral interest". The authorities were aware of him because they believed he had been associating with a number of men in the Plymouth area who were known to hold radical views.But a source insisted he was "only of peripheral interest". The authorities were aware of him because they believed he had been associating with a number of men in the Plymouth area who were known to hold radical views.
In the days after the blast, Devon and Cornwall Police questioned three men in Plymouth but no-one else has ever been charged in connection with the attack.In the days after the blast, Devon and Cornwall Police questioned three men in Plymouth but no-one else has ever been charged in connection with the attack.
Someone came here and did something that was completely out of keeping with Exeter's way of life Lord Mayor Paul Smith Now the police will have to explain whether they got it wrong - and Reilly was, in fact, working alone - or whether they have failed to catch the real mastermind behind the plot.Someone came here and did something that was completely out of keeping with Exeter's way of life Lord Mayor Paul Smith Now the police will have to explain whether they got it wrong - and Reilly was, in fact, working alone - or whether they have failed to catch the real mastermind behind the plot.
Members of Plymouth's Muslim community have always condemned Reilly's actions in the strongest terms.Members of Plymouth's Muslim community have always condemned Reilly's actions in the strongest terms.
One man told the BBC the convert was regarded as "something of an oddball" but they insist he never gave them any reason to think he was a potential terrorist.One man told the BBC the convert was regarded as "something of an oddball" but they insist he never gave them any reason to think he was a potential terrorist.
Neighbours in the Stonehouse area of Plymouth say Reilly became secretive and withdrawn in the weeks before the attack.Neighbours in the Stonehouse area of Plymouth say Reilly became secretive and withdrawn in the weeks before the attack.
The young man who had been nicknamed "the big friendly giant" started spending hours alone on the internet every day. One neighbour said Reilly repeatedly watched footage of the 9/11 terror attacks on his computer.The young man who had been nicknamed "the big friendly giant" started spending hours alone on the internet every day. One neighbour said Reilly repeatedly watched footage of the 9/11 terror attacks on his computer.
Five months on, at Exeter's Princesshay shopping centre there is no longer any evidence of what happened here.Five months on, at Exeter's Princesshay shopping centre there is no longer any evidence of what happened here.
The Giraffe restaurant has been repaired and reopened. Passers-by don't point at the building like they used to.The Giraffe restaurant has been repaired and reopened. Passers-by don't point at the building like they used to.
But Lord Mayor Paul Smith says it will be a long time before the city can fully move on from the blast.But Lord Mayor Paul Smith says it will be a long time before the city can fully move on from the blast.
"It happened. Someone came here and did something that was completely out of keeping with Exeter's way of life. It reminded us we are a world without walls now.""It happened. Someone came here and did something that was completely out of keeping with Exeter's way of life. It reminded us we are a world without walls now."