UPDATE | Suspects arrested in Jussie Smollett attack

CHICAGO (AP) — The investigation into "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett's account of being beaten in a racist, anti-gay attack took another turn today when Chicago police said two men who had been questioned about the attack had been arrested on suspicion of a crime.

Police did not say what crime they may have committed, and they have not been charged, but spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said police consider them to be suspects in the attack.

The two men – whom police have identified only as Nigerian brothers – were picked up at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday and taken into custody after returning from Nigeria after police learned at least one of the men worked on "Empire," according to Guglielmi. He said he did not know what the man's job was on the television drama.

He confirmed a search warrant was executed at the Chicago apartment where the men lived but did not have any information about what exactly what police found.

Guglielmi's comments followed a furious 24 hours that included local media reports the attack was a hoax. Police say those reports are unconfirmed. Producers of the television drama also disputed media reports that Smollett's character, Jamal Lyon, was being written off the show, calling the idea "patently ridiculous."

Guglielmi reiterated there was "no evidence to say that this is a hoax" and that Smollett "continues to be treated by police as a victim, not a suspect."

Smollett, who is black and gay, told ABC News in an interview that aired Thursday the men police took into custody on Wednesday were the ones who hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him, beat him, threw an undetermined chemical substance and looped a rope around his neck before running off. Smollett has said he was attacked while out getting food at a Subway restaurant in downtown Chicago.

Guglielmi said police have not found any surveillance video showing the attack itself, though they continue to look for such evidence. He says police also are contacting various retail stores in the hopes of determining who bought the length of rope that was around Smolllett's neck.

2:26 p.m.

CHICAGO — CNN is reporting police have arrested two men, Nigerian brothers, in the alleged attack on actor Jussie Smollett.

The police made the arrest after they searched the brothers' apartment today.

They have not been charged.

Smollett, one of the stars of "Empire," told authorities he was attacked early Jan. 29 by two men who lobbed "racial and homophobic slurs" at him.

This is a breaking news story. Check Vindy.com for updates.