BUENA, NEW JERSEY (BNO NEWS) — A U.S. man charged in Yemen with being a member of al-Qaida worked at a number of power plants for more than six years, officials said on Thursday.

Sharif Mobley, 26, was identified by Yemeni officials as a Somali-American and was taken into custody earlier this month. He has been charged with being a member of al-Qaida, the same terrorist group which is believed to have carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“Sharif Mobley previously worked as a laborer at PSEG Nuclear for a variety of contractors from 2002 to 2008 mainly during refueling outages for several weeks at a time,” said Joe Delmar, manager of Nuclear Communications for PSEG Nuclear. The company operates the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in Lower Alloways Creek, New Jersey and is a part owner of the Peach Bottom Nuclear generation station in Delta, Pennsylvania.

Delmar said Mobley satisfied federal security background checks required to work in the U.S. nuclear industry as recently as 2008. “While working here, he did routine labor work carrying supplies and assisting maintenance activities.” Delmar said he also worked at other nuclear plants in the region, but provided no further details.

“We are cooperating with law enforcement as part of their investigation as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other nuclear plant operators,” he added.

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