Belgrade — Serbian police shot and killed an attacker who assaulted a guard with knives outside the Israeli embassy in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident, which authorities are treating as a suspected terrorist attack, has prompted Serbia to raise its terror alert to the highest level and tighten security at sensitive sites across the country.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the assailant, a minor whose identity has not yet been established, targeted a police officer with two knives while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The officer, who sustained light wounds, responded by firing at the attacker, killing him. Dacic described the shooting as an act of self-defence.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the attempted attack, stating that “the attacker was neutralized by local police” and that no embassy personnel were injured. The mission was closed at the time of the incident.
Security response and investigation
Following the assault, Serbian authorities elevated the national terror alert to its highest level. Dacic explained that this entails “tighter security checks and an increased police presence at sensitive sites, including infrastructure facilities and places where large crowds gather.”
According to Dacic, Serbian security services had been monitoring the suspect, whom he described as a supporter of the Islamic State group. The minister noted that the attacker “kept the black flag in support of the Islamic State on his Instagram” account.
The attack echoes a similar incident in June 2024, when a man wounded a Serbian police officer outside the same embassy before being shot dead by a guard. That episode also raised concerns about the security of diplomatic missions in the Balkans.
Political context
The shooting comes just days after Serbia’s early parliamentary election on Sunday, in which a youth-led opposition movement defeated the long-dominant political camp of former President Aleksandar Vučić. The result followed nearly two years of anti-government protests. However, Vučić and his allies still control the police, and a new government has yet to be formed.
The incident also follows Tuesday’s parliamentary election in Israel, where the outcome remains uncertain, with coalition talks expected to be complex. The timing of the Belgrade attack adds a security dimension to an already tense regional atmosphere.
Serbia’s response will be closely watched across Europe, particularly in neighbouring countries that have faced similar threats. The European Union has repeatedly called for vigilance against terrorism, and this incident underscores the persistent risk to diplomatic missions and public spaces.
As investigations continue, Serbian authorities are working to establish the attacker’s motives and any potential links to broader networks. The raising of the terror alert signals that the government is taking no chances, even as it navigates a delicate political transition.
