Posted on 05/22/2008 3:09:26 PM PDT by knighthawk
The white Muslim convert arrested after a bomb was detonated in a restaurant in Exeter has been named as 22-year-old Nicky Reilly.
Mr Reilly had a history of mental illness and had been "preyed upon" by "radical" Muslims in the area, police officers said.
They have established that he travelled between Plymouth and Exeter by bus before the explosion at the Giraffe restaurant at the Princesshay shopping centre at 12.50pm.
Two bombs were found and Reilly was the only person injured. He suffered "serious facial injuries" although they were not said to be life-threatening.
He was later arrested before armed police searched an address in King Street, Plymouth, which is linked to Reilly.
The premises was still being searched at 9.40pm.
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville last night launched a plea for information on Mr Reilly's movements and took the unusual step of releasing a picture to assist the investigation.
He said: "Our investigation so far indicates Reilly, who has a history of mental illnesss had adopted the Islamic faith.
"We believe despite his weak and vulnerable illness he was preyed upon, radicalised, and taken advantage of.
"Bomb disposal experts attended the scene and made safe two explosive devices. These are being forensically examined."
Reilly was last night under police guard and thought to be undergoing treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital.
Last night neighbours of Mr Reilly said that he changed his name last year through deed poll to Mohammed Rasheed and described him as “naive and easily led”.
Daniel Turner, 20, a neighbour, said that Mr Reilly’s nickname is the “Big Friendly Giant” but that he had been “brainwashed”.
Mr Turner said: “He is mentally ill and he probably has the mental age of a 10-year-old.
“He changed his name to Mohammed Rasheed about a year ago at a registry office.
“He was brainwashed into becoming a Muslim by local men. He can’t think for himself.
“Nicky is schizophrenic. We call him the BFG but he obviously met up with the wrong people.”
Mr Reilly lives with his mother Kim and has two brothers Luke, 20, and Elliott, 10.
islam: the religion of peace (tm)
Ping
Of course. But lets not call them jihadists. It unfairly taints the peaceful religion. /s
C’mon, who else who join a murderous, tyrannical cult other than a mentally disturbed person?
Oh, I forgot race haters like Keith Ellison.
Or simply been bitten by one. Rabies is horrible.
“lilly whites”...
Hey...it’s not like anyone ever did it before...
*cough* Nichols *cough* Abu-syyaf *cough*
Sorry...had something cought in my throat there...
islam: the religion of peace (tm)
My name is mohammed, and I approved this message.
The religion of the devil.
“Oh, I forgot race haters like Keith Ellison.”
Yep....
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