2 Michigan brothers who converted from Christianity to Islam were arrested in Tunisia as members of a terrorist organization

TUNIS, Tunisia (NBC) — Two American brothers have been arrested in Tunisia on suspicion of belonging to a terrorist organization, two local sources told NBC News.

A senior police official said the brothers were both aged in their 30s and originally from Michigan. A source in the governor's office also confirmed the arrests.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the police source said one of the men was carrying a U.S. passport that identified him as Patrick Alan Lawwill. NBC News has seen a photocopy of the passport, which was apparently issued in July 2015 and lists Lawwill's place of birth as Michigan.

Police were not able to provide a copy of the second suspect's documents.

A State Department official said it was aware of reports the pair had been arrested "on suspicion of terrorist activities" but declined to comment further because of "privacy considerations."

The brothers were arrested in the northwestern city of Jendouba on Tuesday, according to the local police source.

The pair had recently converted from Christianity to Islam and one of them was married to a Tunisian woman who was also arrested, the source said.

The brothers, who both wore beards and traditional clothing, were reported to authorities by locals who said they were "behaving suspiciously," the source added.

Another official in the local governor's office, also speaking anonymously, told NBC News that the pair came to study in the University of Jendouba two weeks ago.

Officials who raided the encampment where they were staying found material relating to hardline Islamic law and jihad, according to the governor's office source.

They did not find any plans to make explosives, that source added.