Jake Bilardi, Australian teen, resembles suicide bomber in Iraq attack
Jake Bilardi, 19, left Melbourne in August and had passport revoked weeks later
Australia's government said Thursday it was trying to confirm reports that an Australian teenager was among a group of suicide bombers from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) movement that struck Iraq's embattled Anbar province.
ISIS claimed in an online statement that it used foreign fighters from Australia, Belgium, Syria and Uzbekistan in Wednesday's attack, in which at least 13 suicide car bombs exploded almost simultaneously in Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar, killing two soldiers and wounding eight. One photo that was posted featured a white van driving down a dusty street, alongside an image of a young man who closely resembles 18-year-old Australian Jake Bilardi sitting behind the wheel.
"I can confirm that we're seeking to independently verify that he was part of this suicide bombing attack," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said. "The news appears very grim, but we are seeking to independently verify it."
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Bilardi left his home in the southern Australian city of Melbourne in August and headed to the Middle East. Bishop said he had been on Australia's radar for several months, and in October, she cancelled his passport on the advice of the country's security agencies.
The British press labeled Bilardi the "White Jihadi" in December after images of him armed with a rifle in front of Islamic flags appeared on social media sites.
"If these reports are confirmed, this is another tragic example of a young Australian being lured to a senseless and violent death by a brutal terrorist organization that is intent on imposing suffering and misery not only in Iraq and in Syria, but beyond," Bishop said.
Bishop would not comment on an unsourced report by the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that said Bilardi had left a series of homemade bombs in his Melbourne home before leaving for the Middle East. The ABC reported that Bilardi's family found the devices after he left and alerted authorities, who then began tracking his movements overseas.
"Until such time as I've been briefed by our security and law enforcement agencies, I won't go into those reports," Bishop said.
Police also declined to comment.
At least 90 Australians are currently fighting with and supporting terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, and more than 20 have already been killed, Bishop said.
More than 30 foreign fighters have returned to Australia and at least 140 people in Australia are actively supporting extremist groups, according to the government. Around 100 Australians suspected of being extremists have had their passports cancelled to prevent them joining the fight in Iraq and Syria or from returning home.
Two Australia-born brothers aged 16 and 17 were stopped at Sydney Airport last week on suspicion that they were headed to the Middle East to join ISIS fighters.