A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a coating provided on a support having a hydrophilic surface, the coating containing thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared radiation absorbing dye characterized in that the dye contains a substituent selected from bromo and iodo; and the dye is a cyanine dye having a structure according to Formula I; wherein Z and Z' represent -S-, -CR a R b - or -CH=CH-; R a and R b represent an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group; A represents hydrogen, an optionally substitued alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, halogen, -OR c, -SR d, -SO 2 R e, -NR f R g, -NR h (SO 2 R i) or -NR j (CO 2 R k) wherein R c represents an optionally substituted aryl group, R d represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group, R e represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group, R f represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, R g represents an optionally substituted aryl group, R h represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group, R i represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group or -NR i1 R i2 wherein R i1 and R i2 represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group, R j represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group; R k, R and R' represent an optionally substituted alkyl group; R 1, R 2, R 3 and R 4 represent hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl group; R, R' and R 1 to R 4 may form a ring; T and T' independently represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, cyano, -CO 2 R k, -CONR l R m, -SO 2 R n, -SO 2 NR o R p or an optionally substituted annulated benzo ring wherein R l, R m represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group, R n represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group and R o and R p represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group. Z and Z' represent -S-, -CR a R b - or -CH=CH-; R a and R b represent an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group; A represents hydrogen, an optionally substitued alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, halogen, -OR c, -SR d, -SO 2 R e, -NR f R g, -NR h (SO 2 R i) or -NR j (CO 2 R k) wherein R c represents an optionally substituted aryl group, R d represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group, R e represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group, R f represents an optionally substituted alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, R g represents an optionally substituted aryl group, R h represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group, R i represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group or -NR i1 R i2 wherein R i1 and R i2 represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group, R j represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group; R k, R and R' represent an optionally substituted alkyl group; R 1, R 2, R 3 and R 4 represent hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl group; R, R' and R 1 to R 4 may form a ring; T and T' independently represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, cyano, -CO 2 R k, -CONR l R m, -SO 2 R n, -SO 2 NR o R p or an optionally substituted annulated benzo ring wherein R l, R m represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group, R n represents an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group and R o and R p represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group.