WASHINGTON – A contract employee at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory was arrested Thursday on charges of stealing classified data about enriching uranium used in nuclear weapons, a law enforcement official said.

The man, who was not immediately identified, does not appear to have any links to terrorists or criminal groups, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the arrest had not yet been publicly announced. The man was arrested after selling the stolen data to FBI agents working undercover in Tennessee, the official said.

The materials taken consisted of data and hardware used to make and enhance uranium. They were never transmitted to criminals or terrorists, the official said.

A court appearance was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)