Attacker Fatally Shot After Assaulting Officer Guarding Israeli Embassy in Belgrade
Authorities are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack and have raised the national terror threat level.
An assailant armed with knives attacked a police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday morning. The officer, who sustained minor injuries, fatally shot the attacker in self-defense, according to authorities.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the incident is being treated as a terrorist attack. In response, Serbia has elevated its terror threat level to the highest possible and increased police presence at critical locations. Dacic identified the assailant as a minor who shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the assault. The officer, identified by his initials D.S., was wounded in the face before neutralizing the attacker.
Israel's foreign ministry confirmed the incident, labeling it an "attempted terrorist attack" and noting that Serbian authorities are conducting the investigation. The ministry also confirmed that no embassy personnel were harmed and that the mission was closed at the time of the attack.
Prosecutors in Belgrade reported that the attacker, dressed in black, entered the guard's booth and lunged at the officer with knives, striking him on the left cheek with one of the weapons. The officer then drew his sidearm and fired multiple shots.
Police photos from the scene depicted the sealed-off area around the embassy guard booth, with officers in tactical gear present.
Dacic indicated that the attacker was believed to be from the western Serbian town of Šabac and had previously come to the attention of security agencies. He added that the attacker had displayed support for the Islamic State group on social media, specifically mentioning a black flag associated with ISIS on his Instagram account.
The incident follows a period of political upheaval in Serbia, with a youth-led movement recently defeating long-serving former President Aleksandar Vučić in early parliamentary elections held on Sunday, despite ongoing protests against him. However, Vučić and his allies retain control of the police until a new government is formed.
In a separate development, Israel also held its parliamentary elections on Tuesday, with exit polls indicating no clear victor.
This is not the first such incident at the Belgrade embassy. In June 2024, another attacker wielding a crossbow assaulted a Serbian police officer on duty outside the Israeli Embassy. That assailant was also fatally shot by the officer.
The Israeli Embassy is situated in an affluent Belgrade district, near the U.S. Embassy. The site is protected by an elite police unit equipped with automatic weapons. Serbia has maintained strong diplomatic and political ties with Israel.