Islamic State launches first terrorist attack on India
Bombing on train confirms militant group's first foray in country

A bomb attack on a train in India has been confirmed as the first successful terrorist strike by Islamic State (IS) in the country.
The blast struck a train near the town of Kalapipal Mandi in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, reports The Times. Several suspects have been arrested, according to Indian security officials, who say they believe the IS cell behind the attack was in contact with the terror group's central command in Syria.
One was shot dead by police after an anti-terror operation at a house in Lucknow, the capital of the northern Uttar Pradesh state.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Police spokesperson Rahul Srivastava told the BBC that they had intended to catch all the suspects alive, but one was found "heavily armed".
Srivastava says the police "recovered more than 600 bullets, pistols and an IS flag from the house", adding: "We recovered a laptop and have also questioned the arrested men. These people were radicalised through social media, and were in contact with other IS members."
A top intelligence official told the Times of India that the blast in the passenger train was a "trial run" by the group, which was planning major attacks.
Previously, IS has tried to carry out attacks in Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, through various cells. But all such attempts were foiled, says the newspaper.
"The emergence of Isis marks a significant change in the terrorist threat faced by a nation that is 80 per cent Hindu," says The Times.
Last year, Indian home minister Rajnath Singh downplayed the threat of IS, saying: "I'm sure the threat of radicalisation by IS won't be an issue in our nation because people who follow Islam in India, love the country."
Then just last month Singh said "the government has kept an eye on IS, and it won't be allowed to become a major challenge for the country".
"It is clear from the events in the past 24 hours that either Singh's earlier assessment about IS's influence was wrong, or the government is failing in its duty to resist the IS infection," says the First Post.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Islamic State: the terror group's second act
Talking Point Isis has carried out almost 700 attacks in Syria over the past year, according to one estimate
By The Week UK Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published