Breaking New From The UK: Nail Bomb Attack At Exeter Mall

UPDATE: Reports are that two additional devices have been found in the area.

A nail bomb, and multiple devices. This looks like the work of Muslim terrorists to me.

The article below indicates it could be animal rights activists.

Following up on the post below, This is London is reporting there was a nail bomb suicide bomb attack at a mall in Exeter this morning:


A restaurant customer has been injured in a suspected nail bomb attack on a city centre restaurant.

The exploded shortly after a man entered the Giraffe Restaurant in the Princesshay shopping centre in Exeter, Devon.

The customer was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the area has been sealed off by police.

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.

The 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.

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.

"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"

I've never heard of an animal rights terrorist using a Nail Bomb, but I guess there's a first for everything.

We shall see.