2 men questioned about alleged attack on actor Jussie Smollett released without charge

Chicago police say they have released two Nigerian brothers who had been arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of assaulting Empireactor Jussie Smollett, saying that detectives have additional investigative work to complete.

The men were picked up by police Wednesday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and their apartment was searched Thursday. They were questioned Friday but police were obliged to release them if they had not been charged within 48 hours.

Police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi tweeted: "Due to new evidence as a result of today's interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charges."

Smollett, who is gay, has said two masked men shouted racial and anti-gay slurs, beat him and looped a rope around his neck early on Jan. 29 before running away.