Further arrest made in connection with Exeter bombing
Nicky Reilly, 22, is in custody after injuring himself in a blast he apparently caused at the Giraffe restaurant yesterday lunchtime
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Friday, 23, May 2008 07:23
A man has been arrested in connection with an incident in Exeter yesterday where a recent convert to Islam, Nick Reilly, detonated an explosive device.
Devon and Cornwall police held a press conference this afternoon where it was confirmed the man was arrested at 15:30 BST on Old Town Street, Plymouth.
Bomb disposal units were present at the arrest and the man is now in custody, police confirmed.
A second man is helping officers with enquiries but has not been arrested.
Police earlier appealed for eyewitnesses to come forward with any information regarding yesterday's incident.
Mr Reilly, 22, is currently being held in custody after injuring himself in a blast he apparently caused at the Giraffe restaurant Thursday lunchtime.
Officers are continuing searches at the shopping centre restaurant and an address linked to Mr Reilly in King Street, Plymouth.
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville launched an appeal for eyewitnesses as detectives begin to establish Mr Reilly's movements on Thursday.
"The investigation has established that the man we arrested, Nicky Reilly, boarded a double-decker Stagecoach bus number X38 in Bretonside bus station, Plymouth," he told reporters.
"We know that between 10:26 BST and 10:40 BST yesterday morning 54 other passengers boarded the same bus and travelled to the main bus station in Paris Street, Exeter, arriving just after midday.
"The bus stopped at a garden centre on the A38 and at Ashburton on its route."
Police are appealing for anybody who travelled on this bus to make contact with them on 0800 056 1864.
In addition to the CCTV image of Mr Reilly issued yesterday, police have described him as a heavily-built 22-year-old white male, 6ft 1in tall with short dark hair.
At the time of yesterday's blast he was wearing blue jeans and blue polo shirt with horizontal red and white stripes.
"Exeter is returning to normality after yesterday and we encourage people to go about their normal business while remaining vigilant and alerting us if they see anything suspicious," Mr Melville added.
Yesterday evening the force said Mr Reilly was a recent convert to Islam and may have been radicalised.
Mr Reilly, who has a history of mental illness, was arrested at the scene after two explosive devices were recovered.
No one else was injured in the blast.