Al-Qaida suspect worked at US N-plants

An American seized in Yemen in a sweep of suspected Al-Qaida members had worked at six US nuclear power plants and authorities are investigating whether he had access to sensitive information or materials that would be useful to extremists.

Sharif Mobley worked for contractors at plants in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland from 2002 to 2008, mostly hauling materials and setting up scaffolding, plant officials said.

Officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday said that investigations were underway into which areas Mobley entered, but noted that areas containing nuclear fuel are tightly controlled and that a labourer typically would not have access to sensitive information.

Mobley, a US citizen of Somali descent, has not been linked to any wrongdoing at any of the plants and officials said nothing he did when he worked there aroused any suspicion.

They added the 26-year-old had passed the necessary screenings, which include criminal background checks, drug testing, psychological assessments and identity verification.

Mobley, a Muslim who grew up in Buena in the state of New Jersey, was among 11 Al-Qaida suspects rounded up earlier this month in Yemen. He was taken to a hospital there over the weekend after he complained of feeling ill. Yemeni officials said he snatched a gun and shot a security guard to death in an attempt to escape from the hospital. He has not been accused by authorities in the US or Yemen of attempting to make a bomb or attack a nuclear plant.

Members of a Delaware mosque where Mobley sometimes prayed on Friday expressed disbelief at the news of his arrest. The imam at the Islamic Center of of Delaware said Mobley was "sort of a very quiet person, a normal person".

A high school classmate also expressed shock, saying Mobley "didn't seem like the kind of person that would have... done this".

A law enforcement official said Mobley travelled to Yemen about two years ago with the goal of joining militants.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was still ongoing.

A second official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US government was aware of Mobley's potential extremist ties long before his arrest.