The US authorities investigating the attempted bombing in New York’s Times Square have arrested two people during searches near the city of Boston.
"Two individuals encountered during the searches were taken into federal custody for alleged immigration violations," the FBI said.
Police have cordoned off a house in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Pakistani-born US citizen Faisal Shazhad, 30, has already been charged with the attempted bombing on 1 May.
Authorities said Mr Shahzad, who lived in Connecticut prior to the bombing attempt, has been cooperating with federal officials.
In its statement on the latest arrests, the FBI said it could "provide no further details as the investigation is ongoing".
But it added: "This search is the product of evidence that has been gathered in the investigation subsequent to the attempted Times Square bombing and [does] not relate to any known immediate threat to the public or active plot against the United States."
A law enforcement official told the Associated Press news agency that searches were also being conducted in homes on New York’s Long Island.
Justice department spokesman Dean Boyd said the searches were the result of evidence collected during a 13-day investigation.
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