The prosecutor said the co-pilot first became radicalised while studying in Australia.
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”.
The Omani co-pilot, now in custody in the UAE, had drawn inspiration from Al-Qaeda’s 11 September 2001 suicide 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.
The prosecutor said the co-pilot first became radicalised while studying in Australia “through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks”.
The prosecutor alleged he was acquainted there with an organisation known as “My Centre” managed by a Lebanese man called Abu Hamza.
Neither “My Centre” nor Abu Hamza are accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
In a video posted on social media, Abu Hamza, also named by local media as Samir Mohtadi, struck back at what he called “false accusations”.
“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.
“The best thing sometimes is not to say anything,” he added.
“They’re going to continue accusing you… making false accusations.”
He did not comment directly on the UAE prosecutor’s claims.
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