Australian man Talaat Hawatt has been detained in Lebanon for suspected links to a terrorist group, according to two Lebanese officials.

Lebanese state media reported a man identified only as “TH” was detained by military intelligence at his home near the town of Dahr al Ain, close to the northern city of Tripoli.

A Lebanese official said Hawatt was suspected of being linked to the Islamic State group or a similar extremist group.

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However, the official cautioned the investigation was only in its early stages.

The ABC is not aware of any information linking Hawatt to extremist activity.

Speaking in Sydney, Hawatt’s uncle Rodney confirmed his nephew had been detained but said Lebanese authorities had made a mistake as his nephew was not a terrorist.

He told the ABC his nephew was in northern Lebanon to get married and the authorities had jumped to the wrong conclusions about his motives for being in the area.