Serbia Raises Threat Level After Knife Attack Outside Israeli Embassy
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic called the incident a terrorist attack and stated that the assailant, a monitored minor, was killed by a gendarmerie officer.
By Olivia Miller ·
Belgrade police have escalated their security posture following a violent confrontation near the Israeli Embassy that resulted in the death of a young attacker. The incident occurred just after midnight on Wednesday and has prompted the national government to treat the event as a coordinated act of terrorism.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic announced that the police had raised the terror threat to the highest level. In response, authorities have increased their presence at strategic sites across the capital to deter further violence. The minister described the assailant as a minor from the western town of Sabac who carried two knives during the assault.
The attacker targeted a member of the Gendarmerie, an elite unit responsible for guarding the diplomatic mission. Dacic stated that the man shouted "Allahu Akbar" while lunging at the officer. The guard, who sustained minor facial injuries, killed the assailant in self-defense. Police photos from the scene show the area sealed off with tape while officers in full gear secure the perimeter around the embassy booth.
Dacic revealed that Serbia's security agencies had been monitoring the suspect prior to the attack. He identified the man as a supporter of the Islamic State group, noting that the attacker kept the group's black flag on his Instagram account. This prior surveillance adds a layer of complexity to the incident, suggesting the authorities had intelligence on the individual's affiliations before the violence erupted.
The timing of the attack follows closely behind Sunday's early parliamentary election, where former President Aleksandar Vucic lost to a youth-led movement after nearly two years of protests. Despite the electoral defeat, Vucic and his allies retain control of the police force until a new government is formed. Israel also held its own parliamentary vote on Tuesday, with exit polls indicating no clear winner in that race.
This is the second major incident at the location in recent years. In June 2024, an attacker using a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer at the same site before being shot and killed. The Israeli Embassy is situated in an upscale Belgrade district, not far from the U.S. Embassy, and is protected by officers armed with automatic weapons. Serbia has historically maintained close diplomatic relations with Israel.
