By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Serbian police shot and killed a young man outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday after authorities described the incident as a terrorist attack. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the attacker rushed a police officer with two knives while shouting "Allahu Akbar," inflicting a minor knife wound to the officer's face before being shot.
Attacker identified as IS supporter
Dacic told reporters the suspect was a minor and Serbian citizen who had been monitored by security services as a known supporter of the Islamic State. The minister said the individual had posted an image of the Islamic State flag on Instagram. The attacker has not been publicly identified.
Terrorism threat level raised to highest alert
Following the incident, Dacic raised Serbia's terrorism threat level to "red alert," the highest level, which mandates stricter security checks and increased police presence at infrastructure facilities and locations where large crowds gather. The injured officer was reportedly doing well and did not require hospital treatment.
Second attack on embassy in under three years
Armed security personnel were seen guarding the embassy Wednesday morning. Israel's foreign ministry confirmed no embassy staff were injured and the mission was closed at the time. This marks the second attack on Belgrade's Israeli embassy in less than three years; in June 2024, a man shot a police officer in the neck with a crossbow before being killed by the officer. Wednesday's attack occurred one day after elections in Israel.
