Melbourne Islamic leader responds to Flydubai hijacker links

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 12 Oct, 08:13 · Archive

A Melbourne Islamic centre leader dismissed accusations linking his organisation to a suspected Flydubai hijacker.

The leader of a Melbourne Islamic centre has publicly rejected accusations linking his organisation to an Omani co-pilot suspected of attempting to hijack a Flydubai passenger jet. Abu Hamza, also known as Samir Mohtadi, released a video on social media dismissing what he called 'false accusations'.

Emirati prosecutors alleged that the 29-year-old suspect, Hammam al-Hammami, became radicalised while studying at RMIT University in Melbourne in 2017. They said he attended a mosque affiliated with the university and through those visits became acquainted with people associated with MyCentre, managed by Abu Hamza. The prosecutors claimed he drew inspiration from al Qaeda and carried out his attack attempt 'with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life'.

In his video response, Abu Hamza referred to Islamic texts on the virtues of staying silent when attacked by others but made no direct reference to the Flydubai incident, the prosecutor's statement or the suspect himself. Neither MyCentre nor Abu Hamza have been accused of any criminal wrongdoing. The UAE attorney general did not state whether the suspect had ever met Abu Hamza or whether anyone at the centre was involved in radicalising him.

How it is being reported

• Melbourne Islamic leader silent on centre’s alleged Flydubai hijacker links in Facebook videoMyCentre leader Samir Mohtadi, who also goes by Abu Hamza, refers to Islamic texts on the virtues of staying silent Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A leader of a Melbourne Islamic centre allegedly linked to the accused Flydubai hijacker has released a video extolling the virtues of staying silent, without directly commenting on the accusations from prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates. Dr Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, the attorney general of the UAE, on the weekend said that investigators had traced the ideological and professional background of the 29-year-old…Guardian World · 12 Oct, 05:55
• Melbourne Islamic leader linked to suspected Flydubai hijacker condemns 'false accusations'Abu Hamza, whose Melbourne-based Islamic community centre was linked by Emirati prosecutors to the suspect in the attempted hijacking of an Israel-bound passenger jet, publicly dismissed "false accusations" against him on Monday. While prosecutors alleged that the Omani co-pilot first became radicalised while studying in Australia, neither the community centre nor Hamza are accused of any criminal wrongdoing.France 24 · 12 Oct, 04:49
• Politics live: Greens call for US execution livestream to be blocked in Australia; Flydubai pilot’s links to Australia ‘disturbing’Follow the day’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The opposition says reports the FlyDubai pilot involved in a thwarted hijacking was radicalised while studying in Australia are “deeply disturbing”. At the weekend, the attorney-general of the United Arab Emirates said that pilot Hamad Saif al-Shamsi underwent a “drift towards extremism and terrorism” while studying in Melbourne. That is why the Coalition will tighten visa laws to keep those who preach hatred out of Australia and deport non-citizens who promote violent extremism. Extremism has no place in…Guardian World · 11 Oct, 20:49

In this story: Abu Hamza · Samir Mohtadi · Hammam al-Hammami · RMIT University · MyCentre · Melbourne · Flydubai · United Arab Emirates

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem