New York bomb suspect’s tourist picture in Times Square

This new picture of Times Square terror suspect Faisal Shahzad on a night out at the New York tourist venue emerged today.

American TV news channel CBS showed the photograph as police revealed Pakistan-born Shahzad carried out two scouting missions before his alleged bombing bid.

Shahzad, 30, is pictured with his wife Huma Mian and other friends in Times Square between a year and a half and two years ago, only 100 yards from where he allegedly left his car, filled with gas cylinders, fertiliser and fireworks, on Saturday.

It is claimed he made an initial reconnaissance trip to the square on April 28, in an apparent attempt to find the best place to leave the car, returning two days later to drop off another vehicle. He was held as he was about to fly to Dubai from the US on Tuesday.

US Attorney General Eric Holder said Shahzad had provided useful information to the investigation.

He said investigators "will continue to pursue a number of leads as we gather intelligence relating to this attempted attack".

American and Pakistani officials are also questioning four alleged members of an al Qaeda-linked militant group over possible connections to the failed Times Square bomber, intelligence officials said today.