Clutching at straws

In the immediate aftermath of an explosion in a restaurant in Exeter yesterday, a number of news reports suggested the incident might be the work of animal rights activists. I think a lot of people were hoping that was the case, I certainly was.

Unfortunately, as with the recent series of controlled explosions in Bristol, the person arrested in connection with the incident is said by police to be a recent convert to Islam:-

Deputy chief constable Tony Melville said: "Witnesses described how a male entered a toilet in the restaurant shortly before an explosion was heard."

He said police and other emergency services went to the scene and the man was arrested in connection with the explosion.

"This male, who we now know is called Nicky Reilly, suffered serious facial injuries but these are not life threatening. He is currently in police custody undergoing treatment at a hospital."

Melville said police investigations had indicated Reilly, who had a history of mental illness, had adopted the Islamic faith and "was preyed upon and radicalised".