Taliban Claims Unfounded In Times Square Bombing Attempt

Bomb Probe Continues As NYPD Releases Video Of Possible Suspect: NYPD officials late Sunday night released surveillance video showing a possible suspect in Saturday's attempted bombing in Times Square, as the investigation into the incident continued into its second day. The video, a still from which is seen to the right, shows what appears to be a white man in his 40s in Shubert's Alley, about a half block from where authorities Saturday evening discovered a parked SUV laden with explosive materials. The explosive device was defused after police evacuated thousands of people from Times Square. In the video, the man takes off a shirt, revealing another underneath. He is also seen looking back toward where the vehicle was parked, and putting the first shirt in a bag. Police on Sunday also released stills from another surveillance tape which shows the SUV before it parked on 45th Street just off Seventh Avenue. Meanwhile, the NYPD says there is no evidence to support claims that a large terror organization was behind Saturday's failed car bombing attempt. Speaking to reporters at One Police Plaza Sunday, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the contents of a 60-second video allegedly released by the Pakistani Taliban were unfounded. "Although a Taliban bomb maker has claimed on the Internet that the car bomb was placed in Times Square to avenge the death of mujahideen fighters, we have no evidence to support this claim," Kelly said. A U.S. based intelligence group that monitors militant websites says it uncovered the video earlier in the day. In it, the group says the attack is revenge for the death of its leader Baitullah Mehsud and killings of top al-Qaida leaders in Iraq. Meanwhile, Kelly says the department's bomb squad found eight bags filled with a fertilizer-like substance in a gun locker recovered from the suspicious vehicle. Initial test results released Sunday evening show the substance would not have been capable of causing an explosion. Police have transported the SUV, seen above in surveillance footage, to the department's forensic testing facility in Queens. In addition to the gun locker, Kelly says police found three propane tanks that weighed between 15 and 17 pounds -- one of which had M-88 firecrackers attached to its side -- two filled five gallon gasoline containers, two clocks with batteries, electrical wire and other components. When asked about the car bomb's potential, the police commissioner said the explosion would have caused a "significant fireball." Meantime, Kelly says investigators are analyzing surveillance video to find out who was behind the wheel of the vehicle. They believe it is a man in his 40s who was seen in Shubert Alley near where the vehicle was parked. Investigators say it all began around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when a t-shirt vendor noticed smoke coming from a Nissan Pathfinder parked and idling on 45th Street just off Seventh Avenue. The vendor then alerted NYPD mounted officer Wayne Rhatigan, who cleared the streets of thousands of people. Streets were immediately shut down, and several residential and commercial buildings in the area were evacuated. "Everything happened so fast, there's no time to be scared. Time to get the people outta here, time to start a perimeter, everybody back, you know, things start going from there -- training kicks in, everything we've been taught over the years, all these training sessions we go to, it just kicks in and it's second nature," Rhatigan told reporters Sunday. "Officer Rhatigan did exactly what he was trained to do -- pushed the people away, brought in all the reinforcements necessary, the police department and the fire department and Office of Emergency Management working together, took control, de-armed the car, got the explosives and the gasoline and the propane out of the car and we're conducting an investigation," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. A robotic police arm broke the windows of the car to remove the materials. Police have since reopened the streets surrounding Times Square. Mayor Bloomberg is also urging people to go about their business as usual. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is praising law enforcement for their quick response to the situation. While in Louisiana Sunday, Obama said he spoke to Mayor Bloomberg and will continue to monitor the situation closely. He said the U.S. will do whatever it takes to protect the American people. "I want to commend the work of the NYPD, the New York Fire Department and the FBI, which responded quickly and directly to a dangerous situation. I also want to commend the vigilant citizens who reported it to the authorities," Obama said. Governor David Paterson said the incident is a reminder that the city remains a target for terrorists. He says the situation underscores the need for the public and law enforcement to work together. "We're living in a new era ever since September 11th. We have to constantly be vigilant and we have to be careful and when something looks awry or suspicious, we should do what the person that sold T-shirts did, which is report it to law enforcement immediately so there can be swift action," said the governor. It's unclear whether security measures in Times Square will be reassessed. The mayor had previously announced plans to expand the network of surveillance cameras from Lower Manhattan to Midtown. Security experts do not anticipate a major overhaul.