Serbian police kill knife attacker outside Israeli Embassy in Belgrade

Serbian police shot dead a knife-wielding attacker outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade shortly after midnight Wednesday after he wounded an officer guarding the building, authorities said.

Outgoing Interior Minister Ivica Dacic described the incident as a “terrorist attack.” He said the unidentified attacker was a Serbian minor believed to be from the western city of Šabac. The assailant rushed at a member of the Gendarmerie with two knives while shouting “Allahu Akbar,” according to Dacic.

The Belgrade Higher Public Prosecution Office said the attacker, dressed in black, opened the door of the embassy guardhouse and threw a knife that struck the officer in the left cheek. The officer then fired several shots, killing the assailant at the scene. Prosecutors said the shooting was justified as self-defence, while the investigation remains underway. The officer’s injury was minor and did not require hospital treatment.

Dacic said security services had monitored the attacker, who was known as a supporter of Islamic State and had displayed the group’s flag and emblem on Instagram. Serbia raised its terrorism threat level to “red alert,” its highest level, prompting tighter checks and an increased police presence at sensitive sites and crowded locations.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the embassy was closed when the attack occurred and no embassy personnel were injured. The same embassy was targeted in June 2024, when a crossbow-wielding attacker wounded a police officer before being shot dead.