Melbourne man denies link to flydubai attack suspect
Al Jazeera Staff
Samir Mohtadi, whose Melbourne Islamic community centre was named in the UAE's investigation into the flydubai cockpit attack, has "firmly denied" any link to the suspect, calling the allegations baseless and misleading. UAE prosecutors say the detained Omani co-pilot was radicalised while studying in Australia.
A Melbourne man whose Islamic community centre was cited by United Arab Emirates prosecutors in connection with the suspect in the attack on a flydubai captain has spoken out against what he calls "false allegations".
According to the UAE prosecutor's investigation findings released by state media last week, the detained Omani co-pilot was inspired by Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001 attacks and acted with the "purpose of causing maximum loss of life".
Prosecutors said the co-pilot, identified by multiple media outlets as Hamam al-Hammami, was first radicalised while studying in Australia "through reading extremist material and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks".
While there, he allegedly became acquainted with an organisation called "MyCentre", run by a Lebanese man named Abu Hamza. Neither "MyCentre" nor Abu Hamza has been accused of any wrongdoing.
In a video posted on social media on Sunday, Abu Hamza – also named by local media as Samir Mohtadi – rejected what he called "false allegations".
"For centuries, people of integrity have always been attacked, abused, accused, killed, imprisoned — and that is how it has always been," he said in a four-minute video shared on MyCentre's Facebook page. He did not comment directly on the UAE prosecutors' allegations in the video.
In a separate statement quoted by Australia's ABC News, however, Mohtadi was said to have stated that he "firmly denies" any attempt to link him or the centre to the suspect. "The relevant authorities should have verified these allegations with me before publishing or circulating such information," the statement said.
"Throughout my life, I have always preached peace," he said. "Both my work and the centre's work have always focused on promoting peace, harmony, mutual respect and community welfare. We firmly reject violence in all its forms," Mohtadi said.
"I firmly deny any attempt to link me or the Multicultural Youth Centre to Al-Hammami. Such allegations are baseless, misleading and risk unfairly harming the reputation of an organisation that has served the wider Australian community for decades."
During the September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the suspect attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with an axe. The captain fought back and tried to call for help.
According to the investigation findings, another co-pilot assigned to the return flight, who was also on board, "noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an abnormal manner". After entering the cockpit, this person "intervened with the assistance of a crew member and several passengers, who together rescued the injured captain and subdued the suspect".
Australian and New Zealand police and intelligence agencies are still investigating the suspect's links to both countries, where he is said to have studied and completed part of his flight training, according to national broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ).
