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Serbian Police Kill Assailant in Attack on Israeli Embassy Guard
· Confirmed
In Short: Serbian police killed an assailant who attacked an Israeli embassy guard with knives in Belgrade.
Serbian police reported on Wednesday that an unidentified assailant attacked a guard with knives outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade and was killed just after midnight.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and The Times of Israel (Israel) reported that the assailant, described as a minor, shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and attacked the guard with two knives. The attacker was reportedly seen holding a black flag in support of the Islamic State on his Instagram account, as stated by Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that Dacic raised the country's terrorism threat level to 'red alert' following the incident, indicating the highest threat level and increased security measures.
According to The Times of Israel (Israel) and WFMZ, the attacker was neutralized by local police, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed an 'attempted terrorist attack' with no embassy personnel injured.
The Jerusalem Post (Israel) and The Times of Israel (Israel) reported that the guard, identified by his initials D.S., fired several shots at the assailant in self-defense, killing him on the spot. The attacker had opened the door to the guard's booth and charged at the officer with knives, throwing one in his direction and hitting the officer's left cheek.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and The Times of Israel (Israel) noted that the police officer, slightly wounded in the face, killed the assailant in self-defense. The attacker was believed to be from the western Serbian town of Sabac, according to Dacic.
The Times of Israel (Israel) and WFMZ reported that the incident follows an earlier attack outside the same embassy in June 2024, when a man armed with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the diplomatic mission.
Despite some variations in the details, all outlets agreed that an assailant attacked an Israeli embassy guard with knives in Belgrade and was killed by police in self-defense.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed an 'attempted terrorist attack' and stated that the incident was under investigation by Serbian authorities.
What's confirmed
- BELGRADE, Serbia -- Serbian police said on Wednesday that an unidentified assailant attacked a guard with knives outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade and was killed just after midnight.
- Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that police were treating the incident as a “terrorist attack” and had raised the terror threat to the highest level and stepped up police presence at key locations.
- Dacic said that “he kept the black flag in support of the Islamic State on his Instagram” account.
- He said the attacker was a minor and had two knives.
- Police photos from the scene showed the guard’s booth outside the embassy and the area sealed off by police tape as officers in full gear stood nearby.
- “The attacker was neutralized by local police,” the statement said.
- Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed the “attempted terrorist attack," saying it was under investigation by the Serbian authorities.
- After that, D.S. took out his service weapon and fired several shots at the attacker, killing him on the spot," it said, adding that the policeman's action was qualified as justified and in self-defense. Dacic noted that security services had been monitoring the suspect prior to the attack. "Based on the information available to us so far, he was known as a supporter of the Islamic State.
- Serbian prosecutors said that a “person dressed in black clothes” opened the door to the guard's booth outside the embassy and charged at the officer inside with the knives, throwing one in his direction and hitting the officer's left cheek.
- The officer, identified by his initials D.S., then pulled out his weapon and fired several shots at the assailant, killing him on the spot, the office of the Higher Public Prosecutor in Belgrade, said.
- The officer responded by fatally shooting the attacker.
- The incident follows an earlier attack outside the same embassy in June 2024, when a man armed with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the diplomatic mission.
What's still developing
- Dacic raised the country's terrorism threat level to "red alert" - the highest threat level – meaning stricter security checks and increased police presence at places like infrastructure facilities and areas where large crowds gather.
- Independent journalism is a vital line of defense for democracy.
- The officer returned fire, killing the assailant, and sustained minor injuries during the confrontation.