18 year-old Australian suicide bomber’s father claims responsibility for son’s acts

The father of an adolescent Australian suspect for carrying out suicide attacks in Iraq for ISIS explained why he feels “fully responsible” for not realizing that his son needed help.

18 year-old Jake Bilardi carried out a suicide bombing attack against an Iraqi Army unit a few days ago, in western Iraq.

John Bilardi spoke to journalists for the first time after his son’s death and stated that his son was a “good victim” for Jihadists “who used him for their case”.

“I would like everyone to know that the fault was mine. He was my son”, he stated to TV network Nine Network.

“I knew there was something wrong with his behaviour, that he had psychological and mental problems that should have been fixed, and for that I am fully responsible”, he stated. He underlined “I should have been there for him, he was obviously in need for help, and as a parent I was unable to provide it”.

According to the Australian press, the adolescent was a talented student. He was raised in an atheist family but converted to Islam shortly after his mother’s death.

John Bilardi had lost all contact with his son after a rough divorce and had only recently reestablished their connection.

His father explains how he was unable to realize his son’s transformation. “He was recruited on the Internet and I knew nothing about it. I had no knowledge of his radicalization. It is tough to fathom. But it wasn’t who he was. He was a shy, lonely teen. How did it get this far? I have no answers whatsoever”.

Australian authorities have not confirmed his death officialy.