Investigators say flydubai pilot's 'drift towards terrorism' started in Australia
A United Arab Emirates official says the man who allegedly tried to hijack a flight to Tel Aviv was reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations while studying in Australia.
Investigators say Al-Hammami's drift towards extremism and terrorism began in Australia nearly 10 years ago. The Emirati attorney-general alleged that Al-Hammami, an Omani national, was attempting to crash a flydubai plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, inspired by Al Qaeda's September 11 attacks. During interrogations, authorities learned of his leanings.
According to the UAE's state news agency, Al-Hammami had been influenced by takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks. He had attended a mosque and interacted with an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, known as "My Centre," managed by a Lebanese man called "Abu Hamza."
Al-Hammami reportedly prepared himself both psychologically and physically for the attack by intensifying his exposure to terrorist material and training in boxing under a private coach. The Australian Federal Police has launched an investigation into Al-Hammami's time in Australia and any links to extremism.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
