Exeter blast suspect named

Last Modified: 22 May 2008
Source: ITN

Police have named the Muslim convert they believe tried to set off a bomb in an Exeter restaurant.

Nicky Reilly, 22, is in custody after injuring himself while apparently trying to detonate one of two devices in the Giraffe restaurant in the Princesshay shopping centre.

Devon and Cornwall Police's Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said investigations had indicated Reilly, who has a history of mental illness, adopted the Islamic faith and "was preyed upon and radicalised".

He added armed police had raided an address in King Street, Plymouth, linked to Reilly and were currently searching the premises.

Police said Reilly suffered lacerations to his eye and facial burning following a blast that led to the evacuation of Exeter city centre.

Nobody else was injured in the blast and no other devices were found despite reports of three other suspect packages in the city centre.

Mr Melville earlier said he could not confirm or deny reports the device was a nail bomb.

He said: "Witnesses described how a male entered a toilet in the restaurant shortly before an explosion was heard.

"This male, who we now know is called Nicky Reilly, suffered serious facial injuries but these are not life-threatening.

"He is currently in police custody undergoing treatment at a hospital."

The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, Stephen Otter said: "The Devon and Cornwall force is 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."

Juliette Joffe, a director of Giraffe, said about 15 people were working in the restaurant at the time of the blast but added: "Nobody in the restaurant has been injured apart from the person who set it off."

These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.