Are you having a Giraffe? Bomb plot blows up in man’s face

The city of Exeter was brought to a standstill on 22 May after an explosive device was detonated in the restroom of a popular restaurant in the new Princesshay development.

A 22-year-old man, later named by police as Nicky Reilly from Plymouth, detonated a device containing a mix of chemicals and nails in Giraffe restaurant at 12.50pm.

Eyewitness Peter Lacey, who was in the restaurant with his wife, told press: “There were three explosions. It is my impression they sounded more like gunshots than a bomb, like a lightbulb exploding.

“They came from a locked toilet.”

The police were called, and officers cordoned off the immediate area surrounding the restaurant. This area was later extended to include the High Street after reports of three further devices in different locations were made. These reports proved to be unfounded, but it is thought that two further devices were found in the initial location and were made safe.

Tony Melville, Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police said at the time: ‘Our main concern was to cordon off the area and make sure the public were safe.’

By 7pm the cordon had been lifted and the city returned to normal on Friday.

The blast caused Reilly to sustain lacerations to his eye and facial burning, for which he was treated in hospital. He was later transferred to police custody and is being questioned.

Reilly, who took a bus from Plymouth to Exeter on the day of the attack, is said to have a history of mental illness, and seems to have recently converted to Islam. Early speculation suggests that he was radicalised by extremists who led him to Exeter in order to carry out the attack.

However, media speculation that Exeter University students were involved has been discredited by the police.

As part of the police investigation, two men were taken into custody on Friday 23 May in Plymouth, and one was later released but continues to assist police with their inquiries. A third man is now being questioned after being arrested on Wednesday 28 May.

Searches are being carried out at a number of premises in Plymouth, including the Muslim Community Centre in St Jude’s. A spokesman from the centre said: “The trustees of the Muslim Community Centre at St Jude’s are as shocked as everyone by the recent events that have unfolded at Exeter and Plymouth.

“We have been working in partnership with the police and community to build the centre and we are now committed to assisting the police with their enquiries.”

Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Bob Spencer said, “As our investigation is ongoing we would reiterate our plea to the public not to make assumptions about people’s involvement in this case based on their appearance, ethnic origin or faith.” He also made clear that no arrests were made at the community centre.

Stuart Franklin, University Head of Press and PR, told Exeposé about the response on campus to the explosion. He said, “When we heard about the bomb our first concern was whether the campus was at risk.

“We sent out an email to all staff and students, and put a notice on the staff and student portals and the university home page.”

He added, “it quickly became apparent that the University wasn’t at risk, but we made sure Estate Patrol were around and that we also had a high police presence on campus to reassure people.”

He also said that there was a heightened police presence outside the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. The Imam of Exeter Mosque, Mohammed Abrar, told Devon county councilors that he “utterly condemns” the “act of terrorism”.

He commented: “Such an act of terrorism is designed to create division, is indiscriminate in who it affects, and is a crime.

“It is important that this shocking experience pulls us all closer together and does not serve to spread fear and mistrust among communities.

“Devon has a proud history of different communities working together and we must not allow this incident, or anything else, to stop that from continuing.”

Students have spoken about their own experiences in the aftermath of the explosion. Rachel Beck, a first-year Economics student, was working in Dix’s field when the blast happened. She said, “We heard lots of sirens and one of my colleagues came in and told us there had been a bomb in Giraffe.

“At first we thought it might be a false alarm as we were not evacuated for over an hour after the explosion, but we could see lots of police outside with sniffer dogs.”

Beck described the atmosphere as “not so much of fear and shock but of confusion – everyone was trying to find out what had happened.”

Jamie McMeekin, a first-year History and Politics students, added “The atmosphere was practically communal, with people gathering to swap stories and rumours and some even appearing excited at what was happening.”

Beck said that she was shocked that the explosion happened in Exeter. “I thought Devon was supposed to be peaceful, and that Exeter was a very safe place to live in. These sorts of events have happened before in large cities such as London, but were totally unexpected here.”

Officers from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism branch are assisting a team from Devon and Cornwall Police with the investigation, which looks set to continue for some time.

Under terrorism laws, individuals can be detained for up to 28 days for questioning.

Profile: Nicky Reilly

Nicky Reilly, the man at the centre of the Exeter bombing, was a 22- year-old man who lived in a flat in Plymouth with his mother.

Neighbours described Reilly, who is 14 stone and over six feet tall, as a “gentle giant” and nicknamed him the BFG after Roald Dahl’s “Big Friendly Giant”.

Police believe that Reilly was radicalised by people taking advantage of his mental illness.

Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said, “He has a history of mental illness and had adopted the Islamic faith.”

He added, “We believe that despite his vulnerable state he has been preyed upon, radicalised and taken advantage of.”

Reilly converted to Islam about six years ago and adopted the name Mohammed Rasheed. His friend Omar Siddiqi, 22, expressed surprise that Reilly was involved in the bombing. He described the Islamic community in Plymouth as “very peaceful” and said that Reilly “seemed a nice guy”, and that “he was always polite and greeted me nicely.”

However, others who knew Reilly have supported the theory suggested by police .

One neighbour, Daniel Turner, 20, said that Mr Reilly “started acting weird” after beginning to attend mosque meetings two years ago.

“He is mentally ill and probably has the mental age of a ten year old,” Turner said. “He was brainwashed into becoming a Muslim by local men. He can’t think for himself.

“Nicky is schizophrenic. We call him the Big Friendly Giant but he clearly met up with the wrong people.”

Another neighbour agreed that Reilly was vulnerable. Scott Allen, 19, said that groups of what he believed were Muslim men had been gathering in the area in “increasing numbers”.

He said, “I would say they picked on him because of his vulnerability.

“He had always been a follower and had always wanted friends”.

Thursday 22 May

12:40pm An explosion is reported at the Giraffe restaurant in Princesshay by the South Western Ambulance Service to emergency services.

1pm More than 100 police deployed to city centre, and begin a full evacuation which is completed 2 hours later.

2pm An injured man, later revealed as suspect Nicky Reilly, is taken to RD&E Hospital with eye and facial injuries. Police later confirm that he is in custody.

2:15pm University warns students to remain “vigilant,” as it is placed on a heightened security status.

4:15pm Police reveal that three other suspicious devices have been reported, but all are false alarms.

5:15pm Bomb disposal experts declare the scene safe, and forensic officers begin to examine the restuarant.

6:50pm Police reveal that two devices were found at the scene: the exploded device, and another was made safe.

7pm Six hours after the evacuation, the city centre is re-opened. People return to shops, offices and their cars.

Friday 23 May

Police reveal that 22-year-old Nicky Reilly was a recent convert to Islam Armed police arrest two men outside a café in Plymouth city centre, in relation to the bomb blast Police begin searching Reilly’s home in Plymouth

Monday 26 May

Police wait to question Reilly, who is in a stable condition in hospital. His injuries are described as serious but not life-threatening.

Tuesday 27 May

Reilly is released from hospital, and awaits questioning by police Police continue to search properties in Plymouth

Wednesday 28 May

Detectives begin questioning Reilly Third man arrested, as police search the Plymouth Muslim Security Centre

Thursday 29 May

Muslim community centre guarded by police in Plymouth