Times Square suspect produced in court

New York: The suspect in a botched car bombing in Times Square appeared in court on Tuesday on terrorism and weapons charges for the first time since his arrest two weeks ago and was quickly led away in handcuffs after being held without bail.

Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistan-born US citizen, muttered one word at the 10-minute hearing — "yes" — when asked to confirm an affidavit about his financial status, which allowed him to have a public defender appointed.

Shahzad, wearing a grey sweatsuit and with his hair a bit longer than in photos splashed around the world, was handcuffed behind his back and led out of court after a magistrate read him his rights. His attorney, Julia Gatto, asked during the hearing if Shahzad could be provided with halal meals, according to Muslim dietary laws that govern how food is prepared. She did not comment afterward and did not immediately return an e-mail message.

The federal courtroom had extra officers on hand and was emptied for a security sweep immediately before the hearing.

Shahzad, 30, was arrested on May 3 at John F. Kennedy International Airport on charges he drove an SUV rigged with a homemade car bomb into Times Square, two nights earlier, sending thousands of tourists into a panic on a busy Saturday night. The bomb did not explode and no one was hurt.

Authorities say the former budget analyst who resides in Connecticut had voluntarily waived his rights to an initial court appearance while he was cooperating. His decision to talk to investigators without an appearance that normally happens a day or so after arrest was allowed by law, but is uncommon for a suspect without a formal plea deal with prosecutors.

Shahzad did not enter a plea on Tuesday to any of the five felony counts against him.

Since his arrest, Shahzad "has provided valuable intelligence from which further investigative action has been taken," the US attorney's office in Manhattan said in a statement on Tuesday. "The investigation into the attempted Times Square bombing continues," the US attorney's office said.

Shahzad is charged with attempted use of weapons of mass destruction and attempting acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, each carrying a maximum life term.

Special group formed

The Obama administration has started using special law enforcement and intelligence teams to interrogate suspected militants in the US and abroad, including the man arrested in the Times Square bombing plot.

US Attorney General Eric Holder announced the formation of the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) and gave the reins to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), replacing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that did have the lead role in intelligence interrogations. The programme calls for the deployment of Mobile Interrogation Teams, made up of specialists from across the law enforcement and intelligence community, to question key detainees, whether they are in US custody or abroad.

"There have been a number of deployments of these Mobile Interrogation Teams to include for the Faisal Shahzad case," said John Brennan, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism.