Jury indicts New York terror-accused

The Bangladeshi man accused of attempting a suicide bombing in a busy New York City commuter hub in the name of Islamic State in December has been indicted on US terrorism charges by a grand jury.

Akayed Ullah, 27, faces charges that include supporting a foreign terrorist organisation, using a weapon of mass destruction and carrying out a terrorist attack against a mass transit system.

He faces life in prison if convicted.

According to prosecutors, Ullah attempted to detonate a pipe bomb secured to his body in a pedestrian tunnel in the subway station in Manhattan's Times Square on December 11.

Ullah was hospitalised for injuries suffered after the bomb ignited but failed to detonate as intended, while three other people suffered minor injuries, according to prosecutors.

Ullah told police officers after the blast that he "did it for the Islamic State," according to the criminal complaint.