{
  "id": 13845805,
  "title": "Melbourne imam named by Emirati officials in flydubai terror probe breaks silence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/melbourne-imam-named-by-emirati-officials-in-flydubai-terror-probe",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T01:32:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-12/melbourne-imam-abu-hamza-on-uae-terror-allegations/107254722"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Samir Mohtadi, the imam of a Melbourne mosque, has broken his silence on the alleged involvement of one of his followers in the attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight. According to Emirati authorities, the 29-year-old suspect, Hammam Al-Hammami, became radicalised while studying in Melbourne. The Emirati attorney-general stated that Al-Hammami started to \"drift towards extremism and terrorism\" during his time in Melbourne, where he allegedly read extremist literature and followed online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks. He met individuals associated with the My Centre mosque in Broadmeadows, which is led by Mohtadi. In a social media video, Mohtadi invoked Jesus and Mary, saying \"the righteous will always be attacked\" and \"the best thing sometimes is not to say anything.\" He recounted a story about Mary being accused of wrongdoing, to which she responded, \"I swear by Allah, I m not going to speak to anyone.\" Mohtadi also emphasized that worshipping God, rather than defending oneself, was a better use of time.",
  "summary": "The leader of a mosque allegedly connected to a pilot accused of an attempted plane hijacking has taken to social media to say \"the righteous will always be attacked\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Melbourne imam named by accused hijack pilot vows to ‘fast from talking’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/melbourne-imam-named-by-accused-hijack-pilot-vows-to-fast-from-talking",
        "published": "2026-10-12T03:39:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Melbourne imam named by accused hijack pilot vows to ‘fast from talking’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/melbourne-imam-named-by-accused-hijack-pilot-vows-to-fast-from-talking-13867786",
        "published": "2026-10-12T03:39:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}