Bomb Blast in Exeter: More Suspects Arrested

Two men sitting outside a cafe with a baby in a pushchair were arrested by armed police today in connection with the Exeter restaurant bombing.

Around seven armed police were seen pointing their guns at the Asian looking men as they sat at a table in a busy high street in Plymouth, the home town of bomb suspect Nicky Reilly.

Shoppers were moved into the Drake Circus mall where security staff were told to move them safely into Cornwall Street.

Shoppers remained further inside the mall while the drama unfolded outside.

Holistic therapy student Lucy Lubrani spoke of the moment armed police swooped on four men sat drinking outside Bagatelles.

The 29-year-old said: "Four guys were sat to the left of us when all of a sudden a police car pulled up and police officers jumped out and surrounded their table. All of them had machine guns and started shouting then all these other police appeared and moved everyone on.

"The four guys looked really surprised, they were just sat there having coffee. They drink there all the time. They were wearing normal clothing and looked more Italian or Greek.

"The police had them with their arms around their backs. They had massive guns.

"The police were dressed in normal clothing. The ones with the guns were undercover.

"They were shouting 'Freeze, Freeze, Freeze' then police then moved everyone outside of the area."

Police are waiting to question Nicky Reilly, 22, who is under guard being treated for severe facial lacerations following Thursday's explosion.

They are said to have CCTV film showing the suspect boarding a bus from his Plymouth home carrying a rucksack.

Neighbours have told BBC News the recent convert to Islam changed his name two weeks ago to Mohammed Rasheed.

A team of about 20 specialists from Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism branch SO15, has been brought in to help Devon and Cornwall Police with the investigation.

After the blast, police evacuated all the shops in the area and sealed off the city centre with police tape. Hundreds waited behind the cordon, as local people were urged to avoid the area.

Nicky Reilly, the man arrested in connection with the Exeter bomb explosion, was known to the Plymouth health authority, it was confirmed today.

Plymouth Primary Care Trust today said: "Mr Reilly is known to the primary care trust as a user of its services.