EXETER BOMBER ADMITS FAILED SUICIDE ATTACK
Nicky Reilly, 22, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to attacking the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter.
Reilly, who appeared under the name Mohammad Rashid Saeed Alim, used the internet to research how to make bombs using caustic soda, paraffin and nails.
But when he attempted to assemble one of the soft drink bottle bombs in the toilet cubicle of the restaurant it exploded in his hands.
Reilly, of King Street, Plymouth, was arrested when he staggered outside after suffering serious facial injuries in the blast on May 22.
Counter terrorist police are still hunting for two men who encouraged Reilly via an extremist website, the Old Bailey heard.
Reilly also considered bombing Charles Street Police Station in Plymouth, a shopping centre and the Devonport Dockyard, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said.
Police recovered pictures of six bombs taken at Reilly's home before he packed them in a rucksack and travelled by bus to Exeter.
Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said Reilly began to plan the attack in early 2008 and researched how to purchase the materials for a suicide vest.
He said: "During the early months of 2008 he was in frequent touch with apparently two other people as yet unidentified with whom he discussed his plans and from who he received a certain amount of encouragement and information over the internet using a website called Chechen233.
"There was some debate, which is revealed by comments on the computer, about what sort of person should be targeted in due course, whether public servants such as police officers or other public servants or ordinary citizens.
"In the end the decision was made to target ordinary citizens in a restaurant.
"He bought more than necessary equipment over those months to construct two types of improvised devices, one using caustic soda and the other kerosene.
"He appears to have tried to increase the potential for injury and death both to himself and others by putting chemicals in glass bottles and filling those bottles with a total of around 500 nails.
"He travelled to Exeter on the morning of May 22, obviously by bus from Plymouth with six bottles, three containing caustic soda, three kerosene and another chemical contained in drain cleaner.
"As he prepared the caustic soda devices in the toilet of the restaurant they began to explode. He was subsequently, as the world knows, arrested and injured himself."
Reilly, who appeared in court via a video link wearing a smart blue shirt and tie, pleaded guilty to preparing a terrorist attack and attempted murder.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing at the Old Bailey on Friday, November 21.
Kerim Fuad, defending, said he wanted to present a statement and a psychiatric report for the court.
He said: "There is much I wish to advance on behalf of this defendant's unusual and complex personal background which led to this ugly and dangerous incident."
Reilly wanted to run into the restaurant holding three bottle bombs to his stomach, but the first one reacted prematurely and he could not get out of the toilet, the court heard.
Prosecutor Stuart Baker said: "His recollection now is that he was unable to open the lock of the cubicle door and come out, by which time the first device had already exploded."
The judge was told Reilly studied a large number of extremist websites and a YouTube video titled: "Home-made bombs."
Mr Calvert-Smith said the defendant "long nursed an ambition" to become a martyr.
He said: "There is evidence from materials seized that he became increasingly drawn to violent action in support of fellow Muslims in revenge for perceived persecution and to the idea of himself personally becoming a martyr."
Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said the two individuals who communicated with Reilly via his YouTube page were believed to be abroad.
She said enquiries to trace his extremist contacts continued, and declined to comment on rumours they may be in Pakistan.
Ms Simpson said there were 24 customers and 11 members of staff in the restaurant when Reilly attempted to detonate his bombs.
She said: "There is no doubt that his intention was to kill and seriously injure many innocent members of the public in the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter.
"This was a criminal act, calculated to cause harm and spread panic.
"The two improvised explosive devices found in his rucksack contained a combination of explosive chemicals and nails with which he intended to kill many people.
"The incident in Exeter shows that terrorism remains a real and serious threat to all communities across the UK, and not just our major cities.
"Acts of violent extremism such as this have been condemned by all sectors of our community.
"The force will continue to work with partners and community groups to help prevent such criminal activities taking place in the future."
Ms Simpson also revealed new details of Reilly's actions on May 22.
She said CCTV footage captured him leaving Exeter's bus station at 12.29pm and walking to the Giraffe restaurant in the nearby shopping complex.
She said: "On entering the Giraffe restaurant he bought a drink from a member of staff and sat down at a bar for a short period of time before he went to the toilet.
"He entered the toilet and started to prepare the device for detonation.
"At roughly 12.50pm, whilst preparing the device in the toilet, it unexpectedly exploded, injuring him and no others.
"Customers and staff heard three loud bangs and then evacuated the restaurant at the direction of the manager."
Ms Simpson said Reilly took photographs of the bottle bombs before setting out on his suicide mission.
The senior officer said investigators do not believe anyone else helped him to physically assemble the bombs.
Ms Simpson said Reilly was treated as a vulnerable adult in the police interviews and another adult was present to help him.
Speaking about his background, she said: "It is some years ago that he decided to convert. It was in 2002 or 2003 – why that was, certainly at this point in time, is unclear.
"He attended various mosques within the Plymouth community and as a result associated with other individuals.
"We have had nothing but co-operation from the mosques and community centres that he visited. We are really grateful for the help and support we have had from those communities."
Police said three other men arrested in connection with the investigation have been released without charge and are not on bail.
Ms Simpson said after today's court hearing: ``We are pleased with the guilty pleas submitted by Mohamad Saeed Alim today to the counts of attempted murder and preparation for acts of terrorism.
"There is no doubt that his intention was to kill and seriously injure many innocent members of the public in Giraffe restaurant in Exeter on Thursday 22nd May 2008.
"This was a criminal act, calculated to cause harm and spread panic.
"The two improvised explosive devices found in Mohamad Saeed Alim's rucksack contained a combination of explosive chemicals and nails with which he intended to kill many people in Exeter that day.
"The incident in Exeter shows that terrorism remains a real and serious threat to all communities across the UK – and not just in our major cities.
"Acts of violent extremism such as this have been condemned from all sectors of our community, and the force will continue to work with partners and community groups to help prevent such criminal activities taking place in the future.
"This has been a complex investigation which has been challenging both for the force and local communities.
"We would like to thank the people of Exeter, Plymouth and beyond for the way they reacted to the events of 22nd May and for the support all sectors of the community have given us in the course of this investigation."
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