Belgrade: Serbian police shot dead a young man outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday after he allegedly attacked a security officer with knives in an incident described by the country’s interior minister as a terrorist attack.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the suspect approached the officer carrying two knives and reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before launching the attack. The officer suffered a minor facial injury and responded by shooting the assailant.
Authorities have not publicly identified the suspect. Dacic said the individual was a minor and a Serbian citizen who had attracted the attention of security services because of suspected support for the Islamic State militant group.
Security Alert Raised Across Serbia
Following the incident, Dacic announced a red alert for terrorism, the country’s highest threat level. The measure calls for tighter security checks and an increased police presence at critical infrastructure sites, public spaces and locations where large crowds gather.
Speaking outside the embassy, the minister said an investigation was under way to establish the full circumstances of the attack.
According to Dacic, security services had information suggesting that the suspect had posted an image of the Islamic State flag on Instagram. Investigators are examining the available information as part of their inquiry.
The police officer who was injured was reportedly recovering well and did not require hospital treatment, the minister said.
Israeli Embassy Confirms Staff Were Safe
Armed security personnel were seen guarding the Israeli embassy following the incident. Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed through a social media statement that no embassy employees had been injured.
The diplomatic mission was closed at the time of the attack, according to the ministry.
The incident prompted heightened security around the building as Serbian authorities worked to assess the threat and investigate the suspect’s background.
Second Attack on Embassy in Recent Years
The latest incident recalls an attack on the same diplomatic mission in June 2024, when a man used a crossbow to shoot a Serbian police officer guarding the embassy, striking him in the neck.
The officer survived and fatally shot the attacker, who was identified as a Serbian citizen who had converted to Islam.
The two incidents have raised renewed concerns about security around Israel’s diplomatic facilities in Belgrade. However, the circumstances of Wednesday’s attack remain under investigation.
Investigation Continues Amid Heightened Tensions
The attack occurred a day after elections in Israel, adding to the international attention surrounding the incident. Authorities have not established a confirmed connection between the election and the assault.
Serbian security agencies are continuing their investigation while police maintain enhanced security measures at sensitive locations across the country.
Officials are expected to release further information as investigators work to determine the suspect’s motives and whether anyone else was involved.
