Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Rolling Stone magazine cover

The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine cover featuring Boston bomb suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has caused outrage online.

Thousands of people posted on social media networks calling it “tasteless” and “disgusting”.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, who pleaded not guilty to all charges in connection to the bombings in April, is profiled in the forthcoming issue.

The image, which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev posted online himself, has also featured on the front page of the New York Times.

“What a disgrace, trying to make [Dzhokhar Tsarnaev] look like a rock star. Horrible,” Steve Simon posted on Rolling Stone‘s Facebook page, where more than 5,400 people have commented in the 12 hours since the cover was revealed online.

On Twitter people said the picture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev looked similar to an old cover featuring singer Jim Morrison of The Doors.

Singer Pink re-tweeted a message by radio presenter Ted Stryker who wrote: “Horrible, classless, stupid choice Rolling Stone. It’s not smart or edgy. Very disappointed.”

Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys, who recently donated $300,000 to victims of the bombings, also expressed their anger.

“Rolling Stone you should be ashamed,” the band tweeted.

“How about one of the courageous victims on your cover instead of this loser scum bag!”

Janet Reitman, Rolling Stone‘s contributing editor, spent two months interviewing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s friends and family as the basis of the article.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, faces 30 counts of using a weapon of mass destruction in the two 15 April blasts that killed three, including an eight-year-old boy.

More than 260 people were injured at the Boston Marathon when two pressure cooker bombs packed with nails, ball bearings and other shrapnel were detonated at the finish line.

It was the worst mass-casualty attack on US soil since 9/11.

Prosecutors could press for the death penalty for 17 counts.