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Nail-bomber given life sentence | Nail-bomber given life sentence |
(9 minutes later) | |
A Muslim convert has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 18 years after launching a failed suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in Devon. | A Muslim convert has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 18 years after launching a failed suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in Devon. |
Nicky Reilly, 22, was the only person injured when he accidentally set off his home-made nail-bomb in a toilet of Exeter's Giraffe restaurant last May. | Nicky Reilly, 22, was the only person injured when he accidentally set off his home-made nail-bomb in a toilet of Exeter's Giraffe restaurant last May. |
He later admitted attempted murder and preparing an act of terrorism. | He later admitted attempted murder and preparing an act of terrorism. |
Police believe the Plymouth man, who has learning difficulties, was "preyed upon and radicalised" by others. | Police believe the Plymouth man, who has learning difficulties, was "preyed upon and radicalised" by others. |
Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said it was "sheer luck or chance that [the bombing] did not succeed in its objectives". | Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said it was "sheer luck or chance that [the bombing] did not succeed in its objectives". |
"The offence of attempted murder is aggravated by the fact that it was long-planned, that it had multiple intended victims and was intended to terrorise the population of this country," he added. | "The offence of attempted murder is aggravated by the fact that it was long-planned, that it had multiple intended victims and was intended to terrorise the population of this country," he added. |
Reilly had admitted the charges last October, but sentencing was delayed to allow doctors to assess his mental state. | Reilly had admitted the charges last October, but sentencing was delayed to allow doctors to assess his mental state. |
He has learning difficulties and Asperger's syndrome, and is thought to have a mental age of 10. | He has learning difficulties and Asperger's syndrome, and is thought to have a mental age of 10. |
But while accepting the attack was "unsophisticated", the judge said: "There is no dispute but that this defendant currently represents a significant risk of serious harm to the public." | But while accepting the attack was "unsophisticated", the judge said: "There is no dispute but that this defendant currently represents a significant risk of serious harm to the public." |
Devon and Cornwall Police said Reilly had been "preyed on, radicalised and taken advantage of". | Devon and Cornwall Police said Reilly had been "preyed on, radicalised and taken advantage of". |
Officers have travelled to Pakistan in their search for two unidentified people who encouraged Reilly after contacting him via an extremist website. | Officers have travelled to Pakistan in their search for two unidentified people who encouraged Reilly after contacting him via an extremist website. |
Suicide note | Suicide note |
Before sentencing on Friday, Reilly's mother Kim told BBC News that her son was "very sorry and very remorseful". | Before sentencing on Friday, Reilly's mother Kim told BBC News that her son was "very sorry and very remorseful". |
"He's sorry to the people of Exeter and those in the cafe that day." | "He's sorry to the people of Exeter and those in the cafe that day." |
Prior to his failed suicide bombing, Reilly left a note saying: "I have not been brainwashed or indoctrinated. I am not insane." | Prior to his failed suicide bombing, Reilly left a note saying: "I have not been brainwashed or indoctrinated. I am not insane." |
Reilly's mother Kim speaking about her son in October 2008 | |
Reilly claimed he was simply doing "what God wants from his mujahideen". | Reilly claimed he was simply doing "what God wants from his mujahideen". |
"Everywhere Muslims are suffering at the hands of Britain, Israel and America. We are sick of taking all the brutality from you," he wrote. | "Everywhere Muslims are suffering at the hands of Britain, Israel and America. We are sick of taking all the brutality from you," he wrote. |
The note attacked drunkenness and sexual immorality as "unacceptable to Allah and the true religion Islam". | The note attacked drunkenness and sexual immorality as "unacceptable to Allah and the true religion Islam". |
Reilly had been preparing to detonate the bombs, based in three glass bottles and containing about 500 nails, caustic soda and kerosene, when one exploded in his hands. | Reilly had been preparing to detonate the bombs, based in three glass bottles and containing about 500 nails, caustic soda and kerosene, when one exploded in his hands. |
Dozens of customers and staff fled the restaurant in panic, but no-one else was injured. | Dozens of customers and staff fled the restaurant in panic, but no-one else was injured. |
Defence barrister Kerim Fuad described his client as the least sophisticated person to have been charged with terrorism. | Defence barrister Kerim Fuad described his client as the least sophisticated person to have been charged with terrorism. |
Reilly had converted to Islam between 2002 and 2003, later changing his name to Mohammad Rashid Saeed Alim. | Reilly had converted to Islam between 2002 and 2003, later changing his name to Mohammad Rashid Saeed Alim. |