Israeli Embassy Guard Wounded in Belgrade Knife Attack, Assailant Shot Dead by Police

A knife-wielding assailant was shot dead by Serbian police after attacking a guard outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade shortly after midnight on Wednesday, October 28. The incident prompted authorities to raise Serbia’s terror alert to its highest level and tighten security at key locations.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” before striking a member of the Serbian Gendarmerie with two knives, the Associated Press reported. The guard sustained minor injuries, while police shot dead the assailant in what Dacic described as an act of self-defence.

Dacic said security agencies had been monitoring the attacker, who was suspected of supporting the Islamic State (IS) group. According to the minister, the individual had displayed the group’s black flag on his Instagram account.

Authorities are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack, with security measures strengthened at key locations across the country.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a terrorist attack had been attempted near its embassy in Belgrade. It said no embassy personnel were injured and the diplomatic mission was closed at the time of the incident.

“The attacker was neutralised by local police. No embassy personnel were injured, and the mission was closed at the time of the incident, which occurred late at night,” the ministry said in a post on X, adding that the incident was under investigation by the relevant authorities.

The attack comes amid political uncertainty in Serbia following Sunday's early parliamentary election. A youth-led movement defeated former President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling camp after nearly two years of protests. However, Vucic and his allies continue to control the police as efforts to form a new government remain underway.

The incident also recalls a similar attack in June 2024, when a man armed with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. The attacker was subsequently shot dead by police.