New York bomb suspect's family accuse police of questioning teenage relative 'with no lawyer present'

The family of a man accused of setting off a pipe bomb in a crowded New York City subway corridor have expressed their anger at the police probe which they claim saw a teenage relative questioned with no supervision.

Akayed said they are heartbroken and deeply saddened by the suffering the attack has caused but hit out at the police handling of the case.

In a statement, Akayed Ullah's family also said they were outraged by the way the investigation was being carried out. They said a teenage relative was pulled from class and questioned him without a parent, guardian or attorney present.

The family said they expected more from the justice system in a statement released by Albert Fox Cahn, legal director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in New York.

Ullah, an immigrant from Bangladesh, was the only person seriously injured in the blast during the Monday morning rush hour that sent commuters scurrying in panic.

In a statement the government of Bangladesh condemned the attack, saying: "Bangladesh is committed to its declared policy of 'zero tolerance' against terrorism, and condemns terrorism and violent extremism in all forms or manifestations anywhere in the world, including Monday morning's incident in New York City."

Police in Bangladesh said on Tuesday that they were not in a position to comment on the suspect.

US law enforcement officials earlier said the pipe bomb was ignited with a Christmas light, matches and a nine-volt battery.

The officials said the short pipe was packed with explosive powder, but did not work as intended and the blast was not powerful enough to turn the pipe into deadly shrapnel.

Law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation said Ullah had looked at Islamic State group propaganda online and told investigators he was retaliating against US military aggression.

The blast during the Monday morning rush hour injured three people besides Ullah, who was being treated at a hospital.

President Donald Trump said the blast in Manhattan highlighted the need for an immigration overhaul.

Mr Trump said that the US "must fix its lax immigration system, which allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people" into the country.

He pointed to his controversial travel ban as an example of the kind of policy that needs to be put in place.

And called on Congress to end "chain migration," in which family members are permitted to join relatives who have immigrated.

He also said people convicted of terror acts "deserve the strongest penalty allowed by law, including the death penalty in appropriate cases".

The only person seriously wounded Monday was the suspected bomber.