Two young New Jersey men have been arrested by federal authorities at JFK airport in connection with a terrorism plot involving an Al Qaeda group in Somalia. The men, believed to be American citizens, were attempting to board separate flights to Egypt at the time.

Sources identify the men as Mohamed Hamoud Alessa, 20, and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, 26, both unmarried. The men have been charged with conspiring to commit an act of international terrorism. They will appear in federal court in Newark on Monday.

The investigation that lead to their arrest, Operation Arabian Knight, involved extensive monitoring and even undercover work from a New York City cop who infiltrated the men’s group of friends and associates.

The arrests were made immediately before the men could board separate flights to Egypt. They were then planning to meet up with the al Shabaab terror group in Somalia, which is closely linked with Al Qaeda.

Federal agents and local law enforcement also raided the homes of both Almonte, of Elmwood Park, and Alessa, of North Bergen.