Belgrade Security: Knife Attack Outside Israeli Embassy Ends in Officer's Death

Police tape sealed the guard's booth outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday, where officers in full gear stood near a scene marked by a recent, violent encounter. An assailant carrying two knives attacked a member of the Gendarmerie, an elite police unit responsible for guarding the diplomatic post. The officer, who sustained slight facial wounds, killed the attacker in self-defense just after midnight.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic characterized the event as a terrorist attack. He stated that security agencies had been monitoring the individual, who was a minor from the western Serbian town of Sabac. Dacic noted that the assailant, a supporter of the Islamic State group, had posted a black flag in support of the organization on his Instagram account. During the confrontation, the attacker shouted Allahu Akbar, the Arabic phrase for God is great.

In response to the violence, Serbian police raised the terror threat level to its highest setting. Authorities stepped up their presence at key locations across the city. The embassy is situated in an upscale district not far from the U.S. Embassy. It is protected by an elite unit whose officers are armed with automatic weapons. Serbia has historically maintained close relations with Israel.

The attack occurred days after a pivotal political shift in Serbia. On Sunday, the country held early parliamentary elections in which long-ruling former President Aleksandar Vucic was defeated by a youth-led movement. This result followed nearly two years of protests against his leadership. Despite the electoral loss, Vucic and his allies still control the police apparatus while the new government remains unformed. Israel also conducted its parliamentary vote Tuesday, with exit polls indicating no clear winner.

This incident marks the second violent attack on the embassy's perimeter in a short timeframe. In June 2024, an individual using a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer at the same location. That officer also shot the assailant, killing the attacker. The current situation leaves the security of the diplomatic mission under intense scrutiny as the political transition continues.

Dacic confirmed that the police officer involved in the Wednesday attack survived his minor injuries. The assailant's body was recovered at the scene. As the new government is yet to be formed, the current security command structure remains under the influence of Vucic's allies. The area around the embassy remained closed to the public as investigators examined the site.