‘War isn’t over’: Al Qaeda-linked magazine calls for ‘copycat attacks’ after flydubai incident

‘The war isn’t over yet’: Al Qaeda-linked magazine cites 9/11, Flydubai attack, urges copycat strikes

A pro-Al Qaeda publication has called for copycat attacks on US and Israeli airliners, referencing the September 11, 2001, attacks and Wednesday’s attempted takeover of a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.The call appeared Friday in the latest edition of al-Bayan, a weekly publication launched in July by supporters of Al Qaeda. The article referred to both the 9/11 attacks and the attempted takeover of Flydubai Flight FZ1073.“The war isn’t over yet — planes carrying Zionists, Americans and all the other infidels fighting against Islam are still hovering in the skies and can be targeted, as happened on September 11th and 30th,” the Arabic-language article said.The article featured an image of a plane crashing into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, alongside an image referencing Wednesday’s attack on the Flydubai flight.“America and the Zionists have far more enemies today than before,” the article said. “Perhaps a man who does not believe in God will target them and his operation will ultimately benefit Islam.”It added: “The day will come when the empire of evil America will end.”The publication’s Telegram channels appeared to circulate the post on Saturday before it was apparently taken down.The co-pilot suspected in the Flydubai attack has been identified as an Omani national. United Arab Emirates officials said he attacked the captain with the cockpit’s crash axe before attempting to seize control of the aircraft.

The flight, carrying 182 people, went into a sharp descent and nearly crashed, officials said. A person familiar with the investigation said the co-pilot had previously been barred from flying by Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views.