Jake Bilardi's father blames himself for teenager's death as suicide bomber in Iraq

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The Australian teenager Jake Bilardi who reportedly died as a suicide bomber in Iraq craved attention and had a death wish, his father has said.

Speaking publicly for the first time since his son’s death, John Bilardi said he shouldered much of the blame for his son’s actions.

The teenager is believed to have died last week during a series of co-ordinated Islamic State (Isis) suicide bombings in the Iraqi city of Ramadi.

At least 17 people were killed, and dozens injured in the attack, which John Bilardi said was orchestrated by the militants.

“He was a prize, a trophy – they used him for their own cause,” he told the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes program. “He had a death wish.”

Describing his son as a shy and lonely boy, Bilardi said he ignored Jake’s obvious mental and psychological issues when he was a child.

“The buck stops with me,” he said. “He was my son, I knew something wasn’t right.”

The youngest of six children, Jake was a difficult child who didn’t fit in; he craved attention and had many violent outbursts, his father said.

Following a messy divorce, Bilardi lost touch with his six children, but reconnected with Jake soon after his mother died.

Jake adopted Islam and quickly became radicalised, watching Islamic State propaganda on his laptop.

He became increasingly withdrawn, spending most of his spare time alone in his bedroom.

He soon joined the fight in Syria, and became the poster boy for the terrorist group.

The 18-year-old’s family now struggles with overwhelming sadness and anger about his death.

Despite not having a body to bury, John Bilardi said he would create some kind of memorial for his son.

“For Jake my son – not the jihadist, not the terrorist,” he said. “The rest of it can go to hell as far as I’m concerned.”