Initial reports linked Friday’s ‘lone wolf’ attack on a police station in Johor Bahru to al-Qaeda affiliate Jemaah Islamiah, but extremism experts say young Southeast Asians prefer pro-Islamic State groups.

Friday’s attack was among the most serious targeting foreign citizens since foreign forces left and the Taliban took over in 2021.

Five people have been detained over the attack at a police station including the suspect’s father and a couple who were at the station.

The arrival of Russian personnel in the West African country came in the wake of a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces from the country.

Saturday’s drone and missile launches, including some that overflew Iraqi airspace, have underscored the delicate relationship between Washington and Baghdad, not least because of Iranian proxy groups that operate in Iraq.

The Bild newspaper reported the youths were allegedly planning to carry out Molotov cocktail and knife attacks in the name of the Islamic State group, targeting Christians and police.

March 22 attack in Moscow killed at least 144 people, the deadliest in Russia in 20 years.

After attacks in Russia and Pakistan, analysts expect more focus on combating terrorism when China chairs the SCO in July.

Islamic State, which harbours a virulent hatred for Iran’s dominant Shiite sect, also claimed responsibility for two explosions in Iran in January.

Russia says the head of Ukraine’s SBU Security Service and others were behind ‘terrorist’ acts on its territory.

Readers discuss what the global response to the massacre that claimed over 130 lives should be, and cases involving the question of genocide in the recent past.

Using Afghanistan as a homebase, Isis cells have hit targets in Russia, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey this year. Baloch separatists have also stepped up their attacks on Chinese interests in South Asia.

In a message posted on Telegram, IS spokesman Abu Huthaifa al-Ansari also praised the group’s attack that killed more than 140 people in a Russian concert hall near Moscow last week.

Belarusian president, a close Putin ally, said Belarus and Russia had coordinated actions as suspects fled to Bryansk, bordering Ukraine and Belarus, where they were apprehended.

Putin said investigators have not determined who ordered attack but it was necessary to ‘find out why the terrorists, after committing their crime, tried to flee to Ukraine’.

Attack in Russia sparks online debate in China over whether extreme security measures might hurt the post-Covid economy or boost investor confidence.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the militant group has since released what it says is footage from the attack.

The court ordered that the men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, be held in pre-trial custody until May 22.

Announcement came after President Emmanuel Macron held emergency security meeting prompted by Friday’s attack at a Moscow concert venue that killed more than 130 people

Questions over how Russian security system was unable to thwart deadliest attack on country in 2 decades even as Western counterparts issued warnings 2 weeks ago.

Pianist from northern China survives terrorist attack by hiding under seat, while another student flees after hearing what sounded like ‘firecrackers’ during gun rampage that killed more than 130 in Russian capital.

The video, which appeared on a Telegram account linked to the militant group, shows the attackers firing several bursts of gunfire, numerous inert bodies strewn around and a fire starting in the background.

Russia was observing a national day of mourning on Sunday after more than 130 people were killed when gunmen opened fire and set off explosives, reminding residents of similar violence in the early years of Putin’s presidency.

President Vladimir Putin says in a televised address that he is ready to work with any state to defeat “international terrorism”.

Isis-C is the “main perpetrator” and received “some help” from Isis-K with the latter present in Moscow before the attack, analysts say.

Chinese president’s message to Russian counterpart following concert hall attack that killed 143 shows Moscow can expect Beijing to ‘stand in solidarity’ with it on security, analyst says.

Just minutes before the show was due to start gunmen entered the venue and opened fire, killing more than 60 people.