World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
UAE links Melbourne mosque to flydubai suspect; imam rejects “false allegations”
The United Arab Emirates says a 29-year-old man accused of trying to seize a flydubai plane began moving towards extremism while studying in Melbourne.
Officials allege he attacked the co-pilot with an axe and planned to crash the aircraft into an airport in Israel.
They say he met people associated with My Centre mosque in Broadmeadows in 2017, when he was studying engineering at RMIT.
The mosque’s leader, Samir Mohtadi, has spoken online about righteous people being attacked and about false accusations, but has not directly answered the allegations.
The claims do not establish that Mohtadi or the mosque radicalised the suspect or were involved in the plane incident.
Australian Federal Police have opened an investigation into the suspect’s time in Australia, while Victoria’s Islamic Council president has condemned extremism.
The investigation will examine his time in Australia; the sources do not say what its findings will be.
UAE officials allege that Hammam al-Hammami became exposed to extremist ideology while studying in Melbourne and was associated with a mosque in Broadmeadows.
Al-Hammami is accused of attacking a colleague aboard a flydubai flight and trying to crash the plane into Tel Aviv.
The mosque’s leader, Samir Mohtadi, known as Abu Hamza, referred to “false accusations” in a social media video but did not directly address the allegations.
Australian authorities have not confirmed the UAE’s claims about the mosque, and the Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team is investigating al-Hammami’s time in Australia.
Both news outlets said they were not suggesting Mohtadi or the mosque had any role in radicalising al-Hammami or in the alleged attack.
- Who
- Omani pilot Hammam al-Hammami is accused of the attack. UAE officials link him to MyCentre mosque leader Samir Mohtadi, known as Abu Hamza.
- What
- Al-Hammami is accused of attacking a colleague on a flydubai flight and trying to crash it into Tel Aviv. UAE officials allege he became exposed to extremist ideology while studying in Melbourne.
- When
- The alleged flight attack was on September 30. UAE officials say al-Hammami became drawn to extremism in 2017.
- Where
- The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The alleged radicalisation and mosque association were in Melbourne, Australia.
- Why
- UAE officials allege al-Hammami intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack. His motive is not independently established in the articles.
UAE officials
Samir Mohtadi
Alleged connection
UAE officials
UAE officials say al-Hammami met people associated with MyCentre in 2017 and that the centre was managed by Abu Hamza.
Samir Mohtadi
Mohtadi referred to “false accusations” but did not directly address the allegations about MyCentre.
Alleged radicalisation
UAE officials
UAE officials say al-Hammami was influenced by extremist literature and online content while studying in Australia.
Samir Mohtadi
Mohtadi said that people who are righteous have long been attacked and accused; he did not directly respond to the specific claim.
During that period, he was influenced by takfiri [radical] ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks
So the best thing sometimes is not to say anything. They're going to continue accusing you … making false accusations.
I’m going to fast from talking because there are circumstances, my beloved brothers and respected sisters, regardless how much you explain yourself to people, that’s it, they’re fixated with their ideas – and that’s it. You can’t change them.
all forms of extremism
UAE officials say al-Hammami became drawn to extremism while studying in Melbourne and met individuals associated with MyCentre.
Al-Hammami was co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and is accused of attacking a colleague and trying to crash the plane.
The UAE attorney-general’s allegations were published in a statement released through state media.
News reports described Mohtadi’s social media video and said the Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team was investigating al-Hammami’s time in Australia.
- Suspect
- Hammam al-Hammami, 29
- Flight
- flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Alleged incident date
- September 30
- Melbourne mosque
- MyCentre, Broadmeadows
- University
- RMIT University
- Australian investigation
- Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team is investigating al-Hammami’s time in Australia
Sources
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