An 18-year-old Australian man was behind a deadly suicide bomb attack in Iraq last week, authorities said Monday, with Attorney-General George Brandis calling it a “disturbing development.”<\/p>\n
The blast last Thursday near a mosque in Baghdad left several dead, including the teenager, who left Melbourne for the region last year.<\/p>\n
Reports said the Islamic State militant group named him as Abu Bakr al-Australi on an affiliated Twitter feed, with Brandis’ office confirming he was Australian.http:\/\/wilayah.info\/en\/wp-admin\/post-new.php<\/p>\n
“This is a disturbing development and is a further example of the dangerous and volatile situation in Iraq at present,” Brandis said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The government deplores the violent actions being undertaken by ISIS and other extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and is deeply concerned about the involvement of Australians in these activities.<\/p>\n
“As I have said many times, it is illegal for Australians to engage in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the government urges Australians not to travel to the region.”<\/p>\n
The statement said he was the second Australian suicide bomber in the Iraq and Syria conflicts, without providing further details.<\/p>\n
Last month Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was deeply concerned that about 150 Australians, some dual citizens, were learning the “terrorist trade” fighting alongside militants in Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n