Christopher Haxel and Matt Mencarini

Lansing State Journal

Two American brothers who formerly lived in Lansing were arrested Tuesday in Tunisia in connection with terrorism charges.

Tunisia Live, an English-language news organization in the north African country, cited unnamed Tunisian officials in reporting that the men were detained on suspicion of encouraging terrorism and campaigning for the introduction of Islamic law.

Other Tunisian outlets later reported that the brothers were released from custody Wednesday but must remain available to officials while the investigation continues.

One organization, Kapitalis, wrote that Tunisian officials originally said they had seized plans from the brothers that depicted attacks against institutions in Tunisia, but later determined the plans may have simply been maps of the city.

While some media outlets have reported the brothers' identity, the State Journal is not naming them because they do not appear to have been formally charged.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday the agency is "aware of reports that U.S. citizens in Tunisia were arrested on suspicion of terrorist activities," but declined to comment further.

The brothers owned a Lansing home in the 900 block of Vine Street as recently as January, according to property records.

That home was unoccupied on Wednesday and has been condemned for occupancy by the city of Lansing since 2015.

Both men have faced criminal charges in Ingham County, court records show.

Tunisia, long popular with tourists, is considered by experts to be perhaps the only country to emerge successfully from the 2011 Arab Spring movement. While the country held parliamentary elections in 2014, Tunisia has suffered from a spate of terrorist attacks, including one that killed dozens of tourists on a beach near Sousse.

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.