Lackawanna, N.Y. ? Members of the Yemeni community in this western New York city struggled Saturday to reconcile their identity as a hardworking and vital part of their town with allegations of a terrorist cell in their midst.

Yemenis started coming to the Buffalo suburb in 1922, finding work in the steel mills that churned on the Lake Erie shore.

They remain a growing part of this city of 20,000. But the community of about 1,000 Yemenis living in Lackawanna has been shaken by the arrests of five men all U.S. born who federal authorities say aided the terrorists who planned the Sept. 11 attacks.

Arrested were: Shafal Mosed, 24; Faysal Galab, 26; Sahim Alwan, 29; Yasein Taher, 24; and Yahya Goba, 25. They were charged with providing material support and resources to terrorists and appeared Saturday in federal court.

Four of the five men were arrested Friday night after federal agents raided several houses and an Arab social club. The fifth was arrested Saturday. They were charged with providing material support to terrorists by training with al-Qaida.

Albaneh Mosed, the brother of Shafal Mosed, said he does not believe the accusations.

“Waking up, praying, going to work, coming home, praying, bringing home the bread, the butter … that was their life,” he said. “This is unfathomable. It’s crazy. This is a made-up story.”

The area where most Yemenis live covers several blocks. Neighbors gather at community hubs, such as the neighborhood mosque and the Lackawanna Yemen Soccer Club, where several of the accused had planned to meet Saturday for their weekly match.

A neighbor of the Arabian Foods store, where an upstairs apartment was raided Friday night, said she was suspicious of some neighborhood activity.

“There was constant traffic,” said Penny Benzo. “Minivans and all types of brand new vehicles. There was honking until all hours, sometimes until four in the morning. But nobody would ever get out of the cars. They’d keep honking until someone came out and then speed off.”

Some in the community fear the arrests will drive a wedge between ethnic groups. Rumors of possible anti-Muslim boycotts already were circulating, and business owners near the raided streets were worried.

Edwin Borrero, who owns a convenience store near the mosque, said his business dropped off after the Sept. 11. He fears what will happen now.

“As far as how people feel some are scared, some are worried, some have even talked about retribution,” Borrero said.