Australia probes if teenager took part in IS suicide attack

Australia's government said on Thursday it was trying to confirm reports that an Australian teenager was among a group of suicide bombers from the Islamic State group that struck Iraq's Anbar province.

The IS group claimed in an online statement that it used foreign fighters from Australia, Belgium, Syria and Uzbekistan in Wednesday's attack.

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."

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.

The teen left his home in the southern Australian city of Melbourne in August and headed to the Middle East.

Bishop confirmed that Australia "had reason to have Mr Bilardi under surveillance for quite some time" and canceled his passport in October after he left for the Middle East.

"However, when he started in Iraq and Syria, with ISIL, it's very difficult for us to keep track of him," she said, using another name for IS.

Last year, the Australian government passed sweeping counterterrorism legislation that made it easier for officials to cancel the passports of people they suspect of engaging in extremism.

The law also makes it a crime for Australians to visit certain terrorism hot spots overseas.

"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 fighting with and supporting terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, and more than 20 have already been killed, Bishop said.

AP - AFP