Official: American of Somali descant to go on trial next month in Yemen over al-Qaida ties

Official: Somali-American to go on trial in Yemen

SAN’A, Yemen — A security official says an American of Somali descent will go on trial next month over the killing of a Yemeni soldier and the wounding of another during a failed escape attempt from detention.

If convicted, 26-year-old Sharif Mobley of New Jersey could face the death penalty.

Mobley was arrested for suspected links to al-Qaida and attempted his escape in March while receiving treatment at a Yemeni hospital for a leg condition.

The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

U.S. officials say Mobley traveled to Yemen with the goal of joining a terror group and that the U.S. government was aware of his potential extremist ties long before his arrest.