Yet more on the UK restaurant nail-bomber: they’re already playing the ever-present “mental illness” card, as we have often seen in freelance jihad cases. Why “mental illness” seems again and again to play itself out in this way when found among Muslims is never explained. “Police question ‘vulnerable’ Islam convert over Exeter bomb,” by Haroon Siddique in The Guardian, May 23 (thanks to all who sent this in):
Police will today question a “weak and vulnerable” Islamic convert suspected of attempting to explode a homemade bomb in a restaurant in Exeter.
Nicky Reilly, 22, who officials believe has a history of mental illness, was arrested at the scene of the explosion at the city centre branch of the Giraffe restaurant chain.
No one was hurt in the incident apart from Reilly. He suffered serious injuries to his face, but they are not thought to be life threatening. Another unexploded device was found close by.
Toby Melville, the deputy chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, said: “We believe, despite his weak and vulnerable state, he was preyed upon, radicalised and taken advantage of.”…
Neighbours described him as an introvert with few friends.
Scott Allen, 19, who lives in the flat below, said Reilly had been teased and probably “felt rejected by local people”. He said people he believed were Muslims had been gathering in the area “in increasing numbers”.
Aly Turner, 17, who lives two floors above Reilly, said he thought his neighbour had been “brainwashed.”
He said he had been in Reilly’s flat and had seen his computer screen saver, which was an image of the burning World Trade Centre in New York.
“He was a bit of a recluse; he did not have many friends locally,” said Turner.
Officials believe an attempt was recently made to radicalise another vulnerable man in the West Country, an area thought unlikely to become a terrorist target….