New York Police Focus on Man Seen Near Times Square Car Bomb

Police investigating the failed car bomb attack on Times Square in New York are focusing their attention on surveillance footage of a white man seen shedding his shirt near the SUV where the bomb was found.

The unidientified man, who appears to be in his 40s, is seen on the footage looking furtively over his shoulder and removing a dark shirt, revealing a red one underneath. The man then stuffs the dark shirt into a bag, officials said.

Investigators are also examining eight bags of a non-explosive grade of fertiliser which was found in a metal rifle cabinet amongst the other materials in the Nissan Pathfinder, including gasoline, propane, firecracks and alarm clocks, according to Times Online.

Raymond Kelly, the New York City police commissioner, said the fertiliser alone would not have exploded but could have set the other materials alight. The bomb, he said, “would have caused casualties, a significant fireball.”

Paul Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman, said it if had exploded; “It would have been, in all likelihood, a good possibility of people being killed, windows shattered, but not resulting in a building collapse.”