The Indo Daily: The return of Islamic State in Europe and what it means for Vladimir Putin

Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev and Shamsidin Fariduni in court in Moscow today. Photo: Reuters

Last Friday’s attack on a concert hall in Moscow sent shockwaves through the Russian capital, with at least 137 people dead and an affiliate of Islamic State, IS-K, claiming responsibility. The attack was the deadliest on Russian soil in years.

Authorities arrested four suspected attackers on Saturday, with seven more detained on suspicion of involvement, Russian president Vladimir Putin said in a night-time address to the nation.

He said the suspects were captured while fleeing to Ukraine, something that Kyiv firmly denies. Putin claimed some people on “the Ukrainian side” had been prepared to spirit the gunmen across the border.

Having apparently dismissed warnings from US intelligence, Putin now has difficult questions to answer.

On today’s The Indo Daily, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Russia analyst Jason Corcoran and security and defence analyst Declan Power to discuss the reappearance of IS, and whether this attack has weakened the recently re-elected Putin.