Melbourne imam denies links to suspected flydubai hijacker

Australian authorities are probing the possible connections between a Melbourne imam and the suspected co-pilot of a flydubai plane hijacking. The Omani co-pilot, currently held in the United Arab Emirates, allegedly drew inspiration from Al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks, aiming to cause maximum casualties. Prosecutors in the UAE claimed he became radicalized while studying in Australia through extremist literature and online content.

An imam from Melbourne, Samir Mohtadi, or Abu Hamza as he is also known, has vehemently denied any association with the co-pilot. He stated that he neither knew the man nor had he ever preached violence. Abu Hamza emphasized that his community center, My Centre, has no record of the co-pilot attending. Authorities in Australia and New Zealand are also investigating the co-pilot's alleged presence in New Zealand on a student visa.