Serbian police shot dead an assailant who attacked an officer with knives outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday, in an incident the interior minister called a suspected terrorist attack. Authorities raised the country's terror alert to its highest level and stepped up security at key locations, with the officer treated for light wounds.
The attacker, a minor whose identity has yet to be established, was shot by a police officer after assaulting the officer with two knives. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the officer acted in self-defence and was lightly wounded. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the attempted attack, saying no embassy personnel were injured and the mission was closed at the time.
Dacic said Serbian security services had been monitoring the suspect, whom he described as a supporter of the Islamic State group. According to Dacic, the attacker had kept a black flag in support of the Islamic State on his Instagram account. The incident is being treated as a suspected terrorist attack.
It comes days after Serbia's early parliamentary election on Sunday, in which a youth-led movement defeated the long-dominant political camp of former President Aleksandar Vučić, though Vučić and his allies remain in control of the police while a new government is yet to be formed. The attack also follows a similar incident outside the same embassy in June 2024, when a man wounded a Serbian police officer before being shot dead by a guard.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attack on a foreign diplomatic mission raises concerns about security for embassies in Belgrade and could affect Israel-Serbia relations.
- The use of a knife attack by a suspected Islamic State supporter, combined with the raising of the terror alert to its highest level, indicates authorities perceive a serious ongoing threat.
- The incident occurs during a period of political transition after the recent election, adding uncertainty about how a new government will handle security and counterterrorism.
Background
Serbia held an early parliamentary election on 25 October 2026, in which a student-led opposition defeated the party of former President Aleksandar Vučić, who had dominated politics for years. Vučić's allies still control the police and other security institutions until a new government is formed. The Israeli Embassy in Belgrade was the site of a similar knife attack in June 2024, when an assailant wounded an officer before being shot dead.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- Whether Serbian authorities release more information about the suspect's identity and any broader cell or network.
- How the new government formation process proceeds and whether security policy becomes a point of contention between the incoming administration and the outgoing leadership.
- Any potential response from the Islamic State group or other jihadist groups claiming responsibility.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedSerbian police shot dead a knife-wielding attacker outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday.Euronews: “Serbian police said an attacker was shot dead after assaulting a guard with knives outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday.”
- SupportedThe incident was treated as a suspected terrorist attack, as the headline states.Euronews: “Serbia's Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said authorities were treating the incident as a suspected “terrorist attack””
- SupportedDacic said the minor shouted “Allahu Akbar” while attacking an officer.Euronews: “"A minor whose identity has yet to be established... attacked a member of the police with two knives while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'," he said.”
- SupportedAuthorities raised the country's terror alert to its highest level.Euronews: “Following the incident, authorities raised the country’s terror alert to its highest level and stepped up security at key locations.”
- SupportedAuthorities stepped up security at key locations.Euronews: “Following the incident, authorities raised the country’s terror alert to its highest level and stepped up security at key locations.”
- SupportedDacic described the attacker as a minor whose identity had not been established.Euronews: “Serbia's Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said authorities were treating the incident as a suspected “terrorist attack”, after an unidentified minor allegedly targeted a police officer with two knives.”
- SupportedThe minor attacked the officer with two knives.Euronews: “"A minor whose identity has yet to be established... attacked a member of the police with two knives while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'," he said.”
- Partly supportedThe officer was treated for light wounds.Euronews: “The officer was lightly wounded and shot the attacker dead in what Dacic described as “self-defense.””
- SupportedDacic described the officer's action as self-defence.Euronews: “The officer was lightly wounded and shot the attacker dead in what Dacic described as “self-defense.””
- SupportedThe Israeli Foreign Ministry said no embassy personnel were injured.Euronews: “The Israeli Foreign Ministry also confirmed the attempted attack, saying the assailant was neutralised by local police. "The attacker was neutralized by local police. No embassy personnel were injured, and the mission was closed at the time of the incident."”
- SupportedA youth-led movement defeated Vučić's long-dominant political camp in the early parliamentary election.Euronews: “The attack comes days after Serbia's early parliamentary election on Sunday, which saw a youth-led movement defeat former President Aleksandar Vucic's long-dominant political camp”
- Reports differIn the June 2024 attack, the assailant was shot dead by a guard.DW English: “In June 2024, an attacker with a crossbow seriously wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the same embassy in Belgrade before being shot and killed by police.”