{
  "id": 14077492,
  "title": "Melbourne imam denies links to suspected flydubai hijacker",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/melbourne-imam-denies-links-to-suspected-flydubai-hijacker-14077492",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T00:30:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Al-Monitor",
    "slug": "al-monitor",
    "url": "https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/melbourne-imam-denies-links-suspected-flydubai-hijacker"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "An imam in Melbourne has denied any connection to Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly attacking a flydubai captain. According to Emirati prosecutors, the co-pilot was inspired by the September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda suicide attacks and intended to cause the maximum possible loss of life. Prosecutors further alleged the co-pilot became radicalized while studying in Australia by consuming extremist literature and online content, and that he was acquainted with an organization called My Centre.\n\nAbu Hamza, the Lebanese manager of My Centre who has also been identified by local media as Samir Mohtadi, stated in a social media post on Monday that he has never met the co-pilot. He noted that there is no record of al-Hammami ever attending the centre and maintained that he has consistently preached peace. Abu Hamza added that authorities should have verified these claims before the information was released. Neither Abu Hamza nor My Centre are accused of criminal wrongdoing.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Melbourne imam denies links to suspected flydubai hijacker",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/melbourne-imam-denies-links-to-suspected-flydubai-hijacker-14072050",
        "published": "2026-10-13T00:02:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Melbourne imam denies links to suspected flydubai hijacker",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/melbourne-imam-denies-links-to-suspected-flydubai-hijacker",
        "published": "2026-10-13T00:06:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘Never met him’: Melbourne imam rejects UAE claims linking Aussie centre to flydubai co-pilot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/never-met-him-melbourne-imam-rejects-uae-claims-linking-aussie-centre",
        "published": "2026-10-13T00:45:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}