Melbourne Islamic leader rejects centre’s alleged Flydubai hijacker links after Facebook video

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Samir Mohtadi, leader of a Melbourne Islamic centre, denied knowing the Omani man accused of hijacking a Flydubai plane and rejected claims linking the centre to him. Mohtadi condemned violence, while UAE officials said the suspect’s path toward extremism began during his studies in Melbourne.

MyCentre leader Samir Mohtadi, who also goes by Abu Hamza, says claims associating him with flyDubai pilot are unfounded Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The leader of a Melbourne Islamic centre allegedly linked to the accused Flydubai hijacker has rejected any connection with the radicalised pilot, saying he never met the suspect, and condemned “violence in all its forms”. The UAE government has alleged that investigators had traced the ideological and professional background of the 29-year-old suspect, Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, and that his “drift towards extremism and terrorism” began while a student at RMIT University in Melbourne in 2017. Continue reading...