Belgrade embassy guard wounded in knife attack, assailant killed
· BehindLines newsroom
A police officer guarding Israel's embassy in Belgrade was slightly wounded in a knife attack during the night of 27–28 October. He shot the assailant dead, according to Serbian authorities quoted by RTS and the Times of Israel. No embassy staff member was injured, according to the Times of Israel and Israel's ambassador.
The sequence described by the authorities
Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić says the assailant carried two knives and attacked the guard. The officer was hit in the face. The minister describes the officer's response as self-defence; that assessment is the authorities' account.
The Times of Israel also reports the account given by the Belgrade prosecutor's office: the attacker allegedly opened the guard booth's door and threw a knife towards the officer, who then reportedly fired several times. These details come from statements by investigators.
The embassy was closed at the time, according to the Times of Israel. Serbian authorities are conducting the investigation.
A heightened security alert
According to RTS, Ivica Dačić describes the attacker as a minor monitored by security services for suspected support for the Islamic State group. These claims remain attributed to the minister; by themselves, they do not establish that a network or someone directing the attack existed.
Authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack and raised the alert to red. The minister announced a greater police presence at sensitive sites and places where people gather.
A separate incident in 2024
The same embassy had previously been targeted in June 2024. A man carrying a crossbow wounded a police officer, who killed his attacker. The Times of Israel recalls that earlier incident, which is a separate event.
The cited reports do not establish a connection between the two attacks. The precise sequence of events and any further responsibilities remain matters for the ongoing investigation.