New Times Square arrests tied to alleged bomber - Holder

"These are people who are connected to Mr. Shahzad, we're still trying to determine exactly what the nature of that connection was," Holder told reporters during a health care event, referring to the accused bomber Faisal Shahzad.

"There's at least a basis to believe that one of the things that they did was provide him with funds and so we're trying to trace back" to determine the purpose of those transactions, Holder said, calling the arrests a significant step.

Investigators arrested several people during raids in New York, Boston and Philadelphia suburbs, but officials said there was no new attack threat.

(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, editing by Doina Chiacu)