Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is alarmed by reports an Australian suicide bomber may have killed up to five people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
The man's real name is not known but the nom-de guerre "al-Australi" has been used by most known Australian jihadists.
A twitter account associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed that a man dubbed Abu Bakr al-Australi detonated explosives at a market.
"Abu Bakr Al Australi may Allah accept him targets a Shiite temple the Militias use as HQ & Kills and injures 90 militiamen," the tweet said.
The National Iraqi news agency says five people were killed and 37 others were wounded in an attack near Hussein bin Roh in Baghad.
Fairfax media reported that notorious Sydney jihadist Mohamed Elomar welcomed the news on his own Twitter account, writing "may Allah accept him".
Ms Bishop said if the reports are confirmed the man will be the second Australian to undertake suicide bombing in the Middle East.
"This underscores the government's deep concerns about Australians going overseas to fight," she told reporters in Brisbane.
"If this report is true then it is a tragedy that a young Australian could become a young suicide bomber and kill others in Iraq; and that is why we are taking this matter exceedingly seriously and we are doing all we can to prevent people going overseas as foreign fighters and not only putting themselves in danger but killing others,” she said.
She said the government was working tirelessly to stop Australians going overseas to be radicalised.
In a press conference on Wednesday ASIO Director General David Irvine told media he was concerned about "tens" of former Australian jihadists who have already returned from fighting in the Middle East and may now pose a home grown terrorist threat.
Australia’s Attorney-General George Brandis has introduced tougher national security laws allowing authorities to force phone and internet companies to store customers' records for up to two years.
The north of Baghdad remains a hotbed of violence, including suicide bombings, as Iraqi forces battle the ISIS insurgency, which is advancing on the capital.
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