This is London
Man injured after TWO 'nail bombs' are found in busy city centre restaurant
.Last updated at 18:48pm on 22.05.08
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/artic...rant/article.do

A city centre was evacuated today after two bombs were found - at
least one of which exploded - at a busy lunchtime cafe.

A man, who is believed to have set off the explosive device, was
injured and has been taken into custody. At least one of the devices
was believed to be a nail bomb.

The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, Stephen Otter, said
tonight: "We can now confirm there were two explosive devices found at
the scene."

He said they were both in the same area of the Giraffe restaurant at
the Princesshay shopping centre, in Exeter, although he would not give
exact details of where.

He said they had both been made safe. He could not say what kind of
devices they were.

The 22-year-old man was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
and the area was sealed off by police. Officers said he suffered
lacerations to his eye and some facial burning.

They are trying to find out what sort of device caused the explosion
and whether there are any others still live.

Forensic experts have been called to the scene and a Royal Navy bomb
disposal team from Plymouth are on stand by.

At least one device is thought to be a home made nail or letter bomb
which may have exploded while being assembled or primed in the toilets
of the restaurant.

Eyewitness Peter Lacey, who was in the restaurant with his wife, said:
"There were three explosions.

"They sounded more like gunshots than a bomb, like a lightbulb exploding.

"They came from a locked toilet."

Another diner, who would only be identified as Trudy, said: "It was
definitely an explosion, it sounded like the lights were exploding.

"There was a lot of glass. I think it came from the toilet.

"There was concern, I wouldn't say there was panic, everyone got up
and the staff were very good getting everyone out."

The blasts happened at 12.50pm as the diner - which specialises in
South American, Spanish and African food - filled with shoppers and
office workers having lunch.

Witness Margaret Sellars, 63, said: "Police have set up a cordon
around the Princesshay shopping centre.

"I asked an officer what was going on and he said a nail bomb had gone
off in one of the restaurants in the centre.

"The shopping centre has only just opened."

She added: "Police are now moving us further back, past the bus
station. A policeman said they may have found another suspicious
package and are not taking any risks.

"It's chaos. People are running away from the scene. There are no
taxis or buses operating.

"A bomb disposal unit is there. Police are getting everyone out from
nearby buildings and there are several ambulances here."

Mrs Sellars, a retired teacher, who lives in Teignmouth, Devon, said
she was on a shopping trip with relatives visiting from Australia when
the incident happened.

She said: "We are trying to get out of the city centre but can't. We
came on the bus but no buses are running. They have closed the bus
station.

"I have never known anything like it. You might expect it in London or
other big cities but not Devon.

"I'm hearing that one man has been injured."

Special branch detectives are investigating whether the real target
may have been another shop in the area, possibly one which sells
products which are tested on animals.

There have been attacks on shopping centres in the West Country over
the past 25 years which have been linked to animal rights extremists

The most serious was a fire which destroyed the Dingles store in
Plymouth more than ten years ago.

Giraffe is part of a popular national chain of restaurants which have
juice and salad bars.

It is popular with the scores of office workers who go into the brand
new £120 million development for lunch and snacks.

The small blast happened at 12.50 when the restaurant was busy but
police say there have been no serious injuries.

The entire shopping complex has now been evacuated by police and
hundreds of shoppers and officer workers moved to a small grassy area
of parkland in nearby Southernhay.

The Westcountry Ambulance Service say they have several units at the
scene as a precaution but have not taken any casualties to hospital.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: "At 12.50pm emergency
services were called to an incident in Princesshay, Exeter.

"Initial reports say that one person has sustained an injury and is on
his way to hospital. Premises nearby are being evacuated as a
precaution.

"It is too early to speculate on what happened and officers are
currently in the area ensuring the safety of the public.

"Whilst we are not fully aware of the circumstances of this incident
it is believed that an explosion of some sort did take place."

Assistant Chief Constable Bob Spencer said: "We are carrying out a
careful evacuation of the premises using the police and other
emergency services that are at the scene.

"We will update the people of Exeter about what has happened as soon
as we can. In the meantime I'd urge motorists to stay away from the
city centre area and road delays are likely"

Shoppers say they were shocked by the explosion which left a man
covered in blood in the Princesshay development in Exeter, Devon.

Office worker Mia Langston said she was out on her lunch break when
she became aware of the attack.

Mia, who works at Ernst and Young accountants close to the Giraffe
Cafi, said she was in the main High Street at the time.

She said: "Initially there were police cars and ambulances around the
McDonalds and the Giraffe Cafe.

"I was told there was a man covered in blood who was refusing to leave
the scene. I did not hear any explosion." Colleague Isobel Savage
said: "I had been in the Giraffe Cafi for a cup of tea just hours
before the explosion.

"There were quite a few people in there and it tends to be busier at lunchtime.

"I did not hear anything but also heard there was a man covered in
blood. It is quite a shock. You certainly don't expect this in
Exeter."
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Doesn't sound like this is an AR attack. The guy was a recent convert to Islam and had mental issues. Other news stories are saying the Muslim terrorists recruited a guy with a history of mental illness to do their bombing for them.