Minor shot dead after knife attack on Israeli Embassy in Belgrade
Serbia has raised its terrorism threat level to red alert following the incident, which occurred days after the country's early parliamentary elections.
By Carolina Wood ·
One police guard was slightly wounded during a knife attack on the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade overnight into Wednesday.
The guard shot and killed the assailant, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told reporters. Dacic described the attacker as a minor who had been monitored by security agencies as a supporter of the Islamic State.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. The ministry stated that no embassy personnel were injured and that an investigation is underway.
Dacic said the attacker was from the western town of Sabac. He added that the young man had posted the black flag of the Islamic State on his Instagram account. During the assault, Dacic reported that the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar."
Serbian police are treating the event as a terrorist attack. The country has raised its threat level to its highest setting, known as a red alert. Dacic explained that this means tighter security checks and more police at sensitive sites, including infrastructure and crowded public places.
The attack happened one day after Israel held its own parliamentary vote. It also came days after Serbia completed an early parliamentary election. The embassy at this location has been targeted before. In June 2024, a crossbow attacker wounded a police officer at the same gate before police killed him.
