A Melbourne man whose Islamic community centre is linked by UAE prosecutors to a flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the plane’s captain has denied any wrongdoing. Samir Mohtadi, who manages the Multicultural Youth Centre in Melbourne, released a video and statement rejecting what he called "false accusations" that his center was involved with or influenced by the suspect. The UAE prosecutor claims the co-pilot became radicalized while studying in Australia through extremist literature and online content, though no criminal charges are made against Mohtadi or his organization.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In September 2023, Hammam Al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, attempted to hijack a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, Al-Hammami attacked his co-pilot with an axe and was trying to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Emirati authorities claim that while studying at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, Al-Hammami became radicalized and linked with extremist literature and online content promoting terrorism.
The UAE attorney-general stated that during interrogation, Al-Hammami admitted to preparing psychologically and physically for the attack by training in boxing and intensifying his exposure to terrorist-promoting material. The suspect is alleged to have been influenced while attending a mosque affiliated with RMIT University and connected with MyCentre, a local Islamic community center managed by an imam known as Abu Hamza or Samir Mohtadi.
In response, Imam Mohtadi released statements on social media criticizing what he described as "false accusations" without addressing the specific allegations against him or MyCentre. He stated that righteous individuals are often attacked and abused but did not provide direct comment regarding his alleged role in Al-Hammami's radicalization process.
Written for “Flydubai Hijack Probe Imams Links” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning: leans left for article 73777 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-10-12
A Melbourne man whose Islamic community centre has been linked by prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates to the co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain of a flydubai jet has hit out at “false accusations”.
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who → link → accusations
The Omani co-pilot, now in custody in the UAE, had drawn inspiration from Al-Qaeda’s September 11, 2001 attacks, and carried out his attempt “with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life”, according to the Emirati prosecutor’s findings published by state media last week.
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pilot → draw → media
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asserted
questions → ask → attack
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pilot → clear → ?
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The prosecutor said the co-pilot, who has been identified in multiple media reports as Hamam al-Hammami, first became radicalised while studying in Australia “through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks”.
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who → investigate → organisations
The prosecutor alleged he was acquainted there with an organisation known as “MyCentre” managed by a Lebanese man called Abu Hamza.
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he → allege → man
Neither “MyCentre” nor Abu Hamza are accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
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MyCentre → accuse → 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 accusations”.
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he → post → what
“Right through the ages, those who’re righteous, they’ve always been attacked, abused, accused, killed, imprisoned — and this is the way it is”, he said in a four-minute video shared on MyCentre’s Facebook page.
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he → ’re → page
He did not directly comment on the UAE prosecutor’s claims in the video, but in a separate statement cited by Australia’s ABC news outlet, Mohtadi was quoted as saying that he “strongly rejects” any attempt to associate him or the centre with the alleged attacker.
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he → comment → attacker
“The relevant authorities should have verified these claims with me before releasing or publishing such information,” the statement said.
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statement → verify → information
“Throughout my life, I have consistently preached peace,” he said.
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he → preach → peace
“Both in my work and the work of the centre have always focused on promoting peace, harmony, mutual respect and community wellbeing.
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Both → focus → peace
We unequivocally reject violence in all its forms,” Mr Mohtadi said.
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Mohtadi → reject → forms
“I strongly reject any attempt to associate me or [the] Multicultural Youth Centre with Al-Hammami.
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I → reject → Hammami
Such claims are unfounded, misleading and risk unfairly damaging the reputation of an organisation that has served the wider Australian community for decades.”
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that → mislead → decades
During the September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the suspect used an emergency axe to attack the plane’s Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who fought back and tried to call for help.
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who → use → help
Another pilot assigned to the return flight who was also on board “noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an unusual manner”, according to the findings.
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door → assign → findings
After gaining entry, he “intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and several passengers, and together they rescued the injured captain and restrained the suspect”.
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they → gain → suspect
Police and intelligence services in Australia and New Zealand are still investigating the alleged attacker’s links to both countries, where he allegedly spent time as a student and where he completed some of his flight training, according to national broadcaster Radio New Zealand (RNZ).
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he → investigate → Zealand
The Aporia
