Third arrest over Exeter blast

Police investigating an explosion at a restaurant in Exeter last week have arrested a third man.

The investigation team said they would not be releasing any details of the man or where he was arrested.

Nicky Reilly, a Muslim convert, was arrested following the explosion on Thursday, May 22, in the Giraffe Restaurant in Exeter.

They have since searched a number of premises in Plymouth and on Friday arrested one man at gunpoint in the city centre. A fourth man is helping officers with their inquiries.

Since the explosion, officers have spent hours searching Reilly's first floor flat in King Street, Plymouth, with bags of items being taken away.

The 22-year-old, who recently changed his name to Mohammed Rasheed, is understood to be the only one injured in the blast

He suffered eye and facial injuries when the device partially went off in the shopping centre restaurant at lunchtime.

Police found two other devices nearby.

Devon and Cornwall police Assistant Chief Constable Bob Spencer said the third man was arrested on Wednesday evening and officers were now searching the Muslim Community Centre in the St Jude's area of Plymouth.

He said: "This arrest is part of our wide-ranging and complex investigation into last week's incident, therefore we are unable to give any further details on it at this stage.

"We can also confirm that the force has begun a search at the Muslim Community Centre.

"This search, as well as another being carried out at a residential address in Plymouth today, are both linked to the arrest of the man made earlier in the day.

"No arrests were planned or made at the community centre.

"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."

The trustees of the Muslim Community Centre have released a statement saying they were "shocked" by the explosion and were committed to assisting the police with their inquiries.

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