Attack on police officer guarding Israeli embassy in Belgrade
An assailant armed with knives attacked a police officer from an elite unit guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade and was killed just after midnight on Wednesday, reports BritPanorama.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic indicated that authorities were treating the incident as a “terrorist attack,” subsequently raising the terror threat to the highest level and increasing police presence at key locations across the city.
According to Dacic, the attacker, a minor, approached the member of the Gendarmerie while shouting Allahu Akbar, Arabic for “God is great.” The police officer sustained minor facial injuries but managed to kill the assailant in self-defense.
Photos from the police at the scene depicted the guard’s booth outside the embassy cordoned off with police tape as heavily armed officers stood nearby.
The assailant was believed to hail from the western Serbian town of Sabac, Dacic stated.
Security officials reported that the attacker had been under surveillance, identified as a supporter of the Islamic State group. Dacic noted that the individual had displayed the black flag associated with Islamic State on their Instagram account.
This incident comes in the wake of a pivotal parliamentary election in Serbia, held just days prior, in which long-time former President Aleksandar Vucic faced a significant defeat to a youth-led movement following nearly two years of protests. Despite the electoral outcome, Vucic and his allies maintain control over the police as a new government is yet to be formed.
In a parallel development, Israel held its parliamentary vote on Tuesday, with exit polls indicating no clear winner emerged.
This attack follows a similar incident in June 2024, where a crossbow-wielding assailant wounded a Serbian police officer stationed at the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade; that attacker was also shot and killed by the officer in a defensive response.
Located near the U.S. Embassy in a prominent Belgrade district, Israel’s embassy is secured by an elite police unit equipped with automatic firearms.
Serbia has consistently maintained strong ties with Israel.
