MUSLIM CONVERT ADMITS FAILED SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK
Nicky Reilly pleaded guilty to the botched suicide bomb attack
Daily Express
Nicky Reilly pleaded guilty to the botched suicide bomb attack
A MUSLIM convert today admitted launching a failed suicide bomb attack on a busy restaurant.
Nicky Reilly, 22, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to attacking the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter.
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.