A Melbourne Islamic centre leader, identified by Emirati authorities as linked to a co-pilot accused in the United Arab Emirates of attempted aircraft hijacking involving a Flydubai flight, posts a video on social media addressing his general views on speaking out. The message, attributed to Samir Mohtadi, also known as Abu Hamza, emphasizes the “virtues of staying silent” and includes remarks that “the righteous will always be attacked,” but it does not directly respond to specific allegations described by UAE prosecutors.
Across outlets, the context is that UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi says investigators traced the 29-year-old suspect’s ideological and professional background and concluded his “drift towards extremism and terrorism” began while studying at RMIT University in Melbourne in 2017. Al-Monitor reports the accused co-pilot is in custody in the UAE and prosecutors say he took inspiration from the September 11, 2001 attacks and aimed to cause the greatest possible loss of life. In contrast, the Melbourne imam and other reporting focus on his apparent refusal to engage with the allegations, including claims from the broader community that the accusations are “false.”
