CAIRO, July 24: An online statement by a group representing itself as Al Qaeda's European branch threatened on Saturday to turn Australia into 'pools of blood' if it doesn't withdraw its troops from Iraq.

It was the second statement in a week by the Tawhid Islamic Group, a previously unknown group which on Wednesday threatened attacks in Bulgaria and Poland if their troops remained in the Arab country.

"We call upon you to leave Iraq before your country turns to pools of blood," the statement warned the Australian government.

"We will shake the earth under your feet as we did in Indonesia, and lines of car bombs will not cease, God willing," the statement said, referring to the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people.

The group identified itself as 'Al Qaeda in Europe.' The authenticity of the statement and the group could not be verified.

Australia has nearly 900 troops in and around Iraq. -AFP