Exeter bomber admits attacks

A 22-year-old convert to Islam who tried to blow himself up in a restaurant in Exeter had been aided and encouraged by al Qaeda sympathisers from abroad, his trial at the Old Bailey in London was told yesterday.

Mohammed Rashid Abdulaziz Saeed Alim - who was born Nicky Reilly - was arrested in May this year at the Giraffe restaurant in the Devon town. He had been priming the bombs in the toilets of the establishment when one had exploded prematurely.

Saeed Alim, who has Asperger's syndrome, is pleading guilty to two charges of attempted murder and preparing a terrorist attack. He has admitted to also scouting out targets in Plymouth, including the dockyards and a police station.

He began to plan his attacks at the beginning of 2008, and is believed to have encouraged by fellow extremists over the internet. Discussions between Saeed Alim and the two men focussed on what target he should choose for his attacks.

On the day of his arrest, Saeed Alim had travelled to Exeter with six bottles contained caustic soda, kerosene and other chemicals, with the aim of creating explosive devices.