Melbourne man denies links to flydubai attack suspect

Samir Mohtadi has rejected any association between himself or the Islamic community centre he manages in Melbourne and the co-pilot involved in the alleged attack on a flydubai jet. The co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, is in custody in the United Arab Emirates and is accused of attempting to harm the aircraft's captain, inspired by Al-Qaeda's September 11 attacks. The Emirati prosecutor's findings indicate that al-Hammami became radicalized while studying in Australia, engaging with extremist literature and online content. Prosecutors allege he was connected to an organization called 'MyCentre,' managed by Mohtadi, but neither the organization nor Mohtadi has been accused of any wrongdoing. In a video posted on social media, Mohtadi described the accusations as 'false' and emphasized his commitment to peace and community well-being. He stated that the authorities should have verified the claims before making them public. During the incident on September 30, the co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, using an emergency axe, but was restrained by another pilot, cabin crew, and passengers. Investigations into the suspect's connections to Australia and New Zealand are ongoing.