No terror charges for Exeter bomb suspect

Updated 20.28 Thu Jun 05 2008

Keywords: terrorism, bomb, Exeter

A man arrested in connection with an explosion in a city centre restaurant will not face terrorism charges.

The man, who cannot be named, was arrested at gunpoint in Plymouth and has been questioned by police.

"He is still in custody and facing charges of a criminal nature and will appear before magistrates on Friday"

The arrest was made the day after an explosion in the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter, for which Muslim convert Nicky Reilly still faces charges.

A police spokesman said: "The man arrested on May 23 is no longer being detained under the provisions of terrorism legislation.

"He is still in custody and facing charges of a criminal nature and will appear before magistrates on Friday. The location is likely to be Plymouth."

However, Mr Reilly, 22, appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London under the name Mohamed Abdulaziz Rashid Saeed-Alim and is accused of detonating a suicide bomb on May 22.

Although no member of the public was hurt in the blast, Reilly suffered injuries to his face and eyes after the bomb malfunctioned while he was in the toilet.

He is charged with three offences including one of engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism.

A third man still remains in custody as the investigation continues.