U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday authorities had arrested individuals who are suspected to have provided funds to carry out the Times Square car bombing plot in New York City early this month.

This undated image, obtained from orkut.com on May 4, 2010, shows Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani-American who is suspected as the driver of a bomb-laden SUV into New York's Time Square on May 1. [Xinhua]

Three people were arrested earlier Thursday in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia areas. Holder said they had connections with Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad, and "may have provided him with funds."

Holder made the remarks in an unrelated event. He also said the authorities are not yet sure of the suspects' roles, if any, in the bombing plot, and are "still trying to determine exactly what (is) the nature of" their connection to Shahzad.

"There's at least a basis to believe that one of the things that they did was provide him with funds," he said.

Federal agents searched properties in several locations in the Northeast on Thursday morning, arresting several people.

The Times Square bombing plot took place on May 1. A smoking sports utility vehicle carrying a suspicious package of gasoline, fireworks and propane tanks was discovered in the highly crowded downtown area, but the bomb failed to explode.

Two days later, Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Pakistan, was arrested in connection with the attempt. Authorities say Shahzad has been cooperative in the probe.

After the Thursday arrests were made, the FBI said there was no known immediate threat to the public or any active plot.