Jake Bilardi Explained

Jake Bilardi
Birth Name:Jake Bilardi
Birth Date:1 December 1996
Birth Place:Craigieburn, Victoria, Australia
Death Place:Ramadi, Iraq
Death Cause:Suicide bombing
Nationality:Australian
Other Names:
  • Abu Abdullah al-Australi
  • Halal Jake
Years Active:2014 – 2015
Known For:Coordinated suicide bombing in Ramadi, Iraq
Module:
Embed:yes
Serviceyears:2014 – 2015

Jake Bilardi (1 December 1996 – 11 March 2015), also known as Abu Abdullah al-Australi, dubbed by the media as Halal Jake, was an eighteen-year-old Australian suicide bomber. Bilardi's background has been described as radically different from other Western recruits and symbolises youth issues more than ideological ones.[1] [2]

Life, radicalisation and death

Born in Craigieburn, Victoria, Bilardi was a shy, lonely boy and student who was reportedly bullied by peers.[3] Bilardi kept a blog describing his disdain for United States forces committing crimes against Muslims in the Middle East. He became radical after his mother died of cancer. By 2014, he expressed sympathy for Osama bin Laden on Facebook. Concerned that the Australian government was monitoring him, Bilardi turned to building explosives in the event he would not be able to leave the country.[4] A recruiter for Jabhat al-Nusra made contact with him in August 2014 and he left for Iraq.[5] [6] [7]

Bilardi died in a suicide attack in Ramadi, Iraq on 11 March 2015. The Iraqi Army stated Bilardi's attack was unsuccessful, killing only himself. ISIL used his death as propaganda, in order to recruit more people to become suicide bombers.[8] [9] According to a friend, Bilardi was concerned his family would "spend eternity in hell" for being non-believers.[7]

Reaction

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, commented on Bilardi's death as an "absolutely horrific situation",[10] stating, "it's very, very important that we do everything we can to try to safeguard our young people against the lure of this shocking, alien and extreme ideology."[11] Greg Barton, director of the Centre for Islam and the Modern World considers Bilardi a self-radical motivated by underlying mental health issues instead of religious zealotry.[12] [13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Young minds need truth about Halal to prevent another Jake Bilardi. Angela Shanahan. The Australian. 2015-03-14. 2015-04-06.
  2. Web site: Iraq: Isis claim Ramadi suicide bomber was Australian teen jihadi Jake Bilardi. Crowcroft . Orlando. International Business Times UK. 2015-03-11. 2015-04-06.
  3. Web site: Australian teen 'killed in IS suicide attack' in Iraq. BBC News. 2015-03-12. 2015-04-06.
  4. News: Teen jihadi Jake Bilardi was preparing to bomb Melbourne. Michael Bachelard. Michael. Bachelard. Latika . Bourke. Latika Bourke. Rania . Spooner. The Age. Fairfax Media. https://web.archive.org/web/20151219165524/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/teen-jihadi-jake-bilardi-was-preparing-to-bomb-melbourne-20150312-142lwy.html. 19 December 2015. 2015-03-13. 2015-04-06.
  5. Web site: Blog of suspected teen terrorist reveals path to ISIS. Hume . Tim. CNN. 13 March 2015. 2015-04-06.
  6. Web site: Melbourne teen killed himself in ISIS attack. Hume . Tim. Lister . Tim. Luu . Chieu. CNN. 12 March 2015. 2015-04-06.
  7. Web site: Jihad Jake 'was worried his family would spend eternity in hell'. Dowling, James. Herald Sun. 2015-04-04. 2015-04-06.
  8. Web site: Jake Bilardi's death used for propaganda value by Islamic State. Bachelard, Michael . The Sydney Morning Herald. 2015-03-17. 2015-04-09.
  9. Web site: Jihadi Jake Bilardi was 'weak' and 'sold his soul cheaply', says Islamic State online propaganda. Dowling, James. Herald Sun. 2015-03-17. 2015-04-06.
  10. Web site: Aussie teen Jake Bilardi carries out suicide bombing says Islamic State. Jared Owens. The Australian. 2015-03-12. 2015-04-06.
  11. Web site: Exclusive: blog shows Australian teen reported dead in Iraq suicide attack had planned bombings in Melbourne. Safi . Michael. The Guardian. 2015-03-11. 2015-04-06.
  12. Web site: Jihad Jake's unusual radicalisation. skynews.com.au. 2015-03-13. 2015-04-06. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150408003839/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/03/13/jihad-jake-s-unusual-radicalisation.html. 8 April 2015. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: 'White jihadi' father: My son had a death wish and threatened family with violence. Jonathan Pearlman. The Daily Telegraph. 23 March 2015. 2015-04-06.

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