Al Qaeda recently made a disturbing call for copycat attacks on American and Israeli airliners, referencing the September 11, 2001, attacks and praising a hijacker involved in a recent incident on a Flydubai flight. This call was published in the group's weekly publication, al-Bayan.
The article called for renewed attacks on planes carrying "Zionists, Americans, and infidels," declaring that "the war isn't over yet," and invoking imagery of planes crashing into the Twin Towers.
The publication appeared to celebrate the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, asserting that enemies of America and Israel have increased since September 11.
Terrorism expert Evan Kohlmann noted that posts linked to Hamam al-Hammami, the accused hijacker, could suggest he is not affiliated with ISIS.
Just hours after the hijacking attempt, al-Hammami's social media accounts featured posts, including references to Al Qaeda’s former leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, before being deleted.
Al-Hammami allegedly tried to take control of the cockpit with an axe, but was restrained by the crew and passengers. His background includes previous allegations of Islamist radicalization and possession of extremist material.
Israeli officials claim al-Hammami was influenced by Al Qaeda's ideology. Investigations are ongoing regarding his motives and any possible links to terrorist organizations.
Despite Al Qaeda's provocative statements surrounding the recent hijacking attempt, no evidence confirms that al-Hammami acted directly on behalf of the group. Authorities are continuing to investigate all aspects of the incident, including potential radicalization and connections.
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