Axe attack on flydubai flight: Australia investigates potential radicalisation of co-pilot
Australian authorities are examining possible links to the country by the flydubai co-pilot. The suspect, from Oman, is reported to have studied in Melbourne between 2015 and 2017.
Australian authorities investigate "links to country" of flydubai co-pilot who attacked captain
Australian police announced that they are investigating possible "links to the country" of the flydubai co-pilot who attacked the captain during a flight to Tel Aviv, according to In.gr.
The Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates clarified that the attack on flydubai flight 1073 — with an emergency axe and not with a knife as initially reported — was carried out with an emergency axe. He characterised the incident as "a terrorist attack".
Reuters, citing sources with knowledge of the investigation, identified the co-pilot as Hammad Al Hammadi, an Omani national. The UAE authorities have not confirmed his identity to date, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated that the suspect is from Oman. Neither have Omani authorities commented to date.
According to Australian network ABC, counter-terrorism officials are examining the possibility that the man was radicalised during his stay in Australia. Sources who spoke to Australian media reported that the co-pilot had been granted a student visa in 2014, and is reported to have studied in the country during the period 2015–2017.
ABC reported that the student visa was cancelled in 2019, as the individual was no longer enrolled in any study programme, rendering its retention "invalid". Two sources with knowledge of the investigation stated that he studied at a university in Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. Local media specifically cited RMIT University, which told Reuters that it had no comment.
Reuters was unable to independently contact Al Hammadi. Flydubai announced that a full investigation into the incident is underway.
Source: In.gr