American Held in Yemen Described as 'Nice, Normal Guy,' said Friend

By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

An old high school friend of the South Jersey man arrested by Yemeni counter terrorism forces during an Al-Qaeda suspect roundup in Sa'naa, Yemen earlier this month has asked that we pray for the family of Sharif Mobley.

The man, who asked that he only be identified as "Chad" said that he attended high school with Mobley and was very close to him during their school days.

Chad described Mobley as a "normal, nice guy" with whom he went to wrestling matches with. Chad said that Mobley moved to Yemen two years ago to learn Arabic and that he never heard Mobley recite any radical statements nor did he know of his former friend having any ties to extremist groups.

He added that Mobley, who is the son of Somalian Muslim immigrants, was an average kid who liked girls and video games and never bothered anyone.

"He was an overall nice person who would do anything for you.
Chad and Mobley attended Buena Regional High School together. When asked if other former friends of Mobley had discussed his arrest, Chad replied, 'we were all shocked when we learned of his arrest. He was such a nice guy. This is all so weird."

Chad, who admitted he hadn't spoken to Mobley in seven years, said that the former nuclear plant worker came from a great family.

"They were absolutely the greatest people you'd ever meet. They were very kind. They were the nicest people in the world. I just hope everyone prays for them and keeps them in their thoughts," said Chad.

While in custody in Yemen, Mobley complained about a metal rod that had been implanted in his leg and was taken to Republican Hospital in Sana'a where he spent a week before he tried to escape.

Mobley, 26, feigned friendship with security officers guarding him. On the day of the shooting he asked one of the guards to unshackle him for prayer.

The guard went into the latrine to begin the required purification ritual for prayer, ablution and left his gun unattended.
Mobley shot the guard once in the head and chest as he returned from the latrine. Two guards heard the gunfire and headed to Mobley's room where they were shot and wounded. The shootout ended when a smoke grenade ignited a fire forcing Mobley to barricade himself in a hospital room.

Mobley once worked at Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power stations as well as another. Officials at the plants he worked for said Mobley was supervised and did not breach security.

Investigators learned that Mobley, 26, had been communicating with radical cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, who Federal authorities have linked to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man who tried to blow up a U.S. flight on Christmas Day as well as Philadelphia native "Jihad Jane" and Fort Hood shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hassan.

Awlaki, who fled the United States, is said to have taught at a Virginia mosque visited by 9/11 hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Hani Hanjour.

Mobley, a natural-born U.S. citizen, remains detained in Yemen after the hospital shooting. There is no word if he was injured during the shooting or if American Embassy officials have made contact with him.

Media outlets must credit The Black Urban Times, LLC and The New Jersey Newsroom