Police search Muslim centre after new arrest over Exeter nail bombing

Police have searched a Muslim centre following the arrest of a third suspect in connection with a terror bombing in Exeter.

The man was arrested at 5.30pm yesterday and the investigation team said it would not be releasing any details of the suspect or where he was arrested.

The explosion took place in a busy shopping centre at lunchtime last Thursday in the Giraffe restaurant.

Following the blast, police arrested Muslim convert Nicky Reilly, from Plymouth, Devon.

They have since searched a number of premises in Plymouth and on May 23 arrested one man at gunpoint in the city centre.

A fourth man is helping officers with their inquiries.

Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Bob Spencer said 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.’

The search is one of a number at premises in Plymouth since the attack including an address in Connaught Avenue which was searched by specialist officers.

Since the explosion, officers have spent hours searching Reilly's first-floor flat in King Street 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 received eye and facial injuries when the device partially went off in the shopping centre restaurant at lunchtime.

Police found two other devices nearby.

Reilly, who had been under police guard in hospital, is now in custody in the Devon and Cornwall force area as is the second man arrested at gunpoint on Friday.

The man who was helping police with their inquiries left the police station on Monday and was continuing to assist the force, a police spokesman said.

The trustees of the Muslim Community Centre released a statement saying they were ‘shocked’ by the explosion.

The statement said: ‘We are as shocked as everyone by the recent events that have unfolded at Exeter and Plymouth.

‘We have been working in partnership with the police and community to build the centre and we are now committed to assisting the police with their inquiries.

'We are offering them any assistance they may require.

‘We look forward to the centre being returned to work as soon as possible.’