Serbian police shot dead an attacker who used two knives to assault officers guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. The Interior Minister stated that the incident is being investigated as terrorism, with the national security alert raised to the highest red level and police forces increased at key locations after discovering the attacker supported the Islamic State group.
Serbian police shot dead a man who attacked officers guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, shortly after midnight on Wednesday, 28 October local time, using two knives to assault the officers.
Ivica Dačić, Serbia's outgoing Interior Minister, revealed the attacker was a minor whose identity has not been definitively confirmed but is believed to be from Šabac, a city in western Serbia. The attacker charged at special police officers shouting "Allahu Akbar," an Arabic phrase meaning "God is great."
The police officers sustained minor injuries to the face and head before shooting the attacker dead in self-defense. The Serbian Interior Ministry stated the officers' response was a necessary act of self-protection given the circumstances.
Dačić said the authorities are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack, announcing an elevation of the national security alert to the highest red level. Police presence has been increased at important sites, infrastructure, and crowded public areas, along with heightened security screening measures.
The Interior Minister added that security agencies had been monitoring the attacker beforehand, as he was identified as a supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS). Dačić noted the attacker’s Instagram account featured black flags and ISIS symbols. However, the authorities have not yet fully disclosed details about the attacker’s identity or motives behind the assault.
Images from the scene show a security post outside the embassy and the surrounding area cordoned off with police tape, while officers in tactical gear remain on site.
This incident marks another attack on security personnel at the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. In June 2024, a man shot a Serbian police officer guarding the embassy with a crossbow, severely injuring him, before being shot dead by police. Reports indicated the attacker was a 25-year-old man from a village near Belgrade who had converted to Islam and later adopted extremist views.
Although attacks like this are rare in Serbia, the recent event has prompted authorities to tighten security measures, especially at sensitive sites connected to international relations.
The attack occurred amid significant political developments in both Serbia and Israel. Serbia held an early parliamentary election on 25 October following nearly two years of protests against former long-time leader Aleksandar Vučić, driven largely by student-led movements pushing for political change.
However, the previous government continues to serve in a caretaker role until a new administration is formed, with Vučić and his allies maintaining influence over the police during this transitional period.
Meanwhile, Israel held its parliamentary election on 27 October. Preliminary exit polls indicated no clear winner, with opposition groups closely matched against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc. Authorities have not disclosed any evidence linking the attack in Serbia to the political situation in Israel.
/sourceThe Associated Press/Reuters/AFP