Serbian Police Officer Wounded in Attack at Israeli Embassy in Belgrade

By Hamodia Staff

A Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade was wounded in a crossbow attack on Saturday, according to Serbia’s Interior Ministry. The officer responded by fatally shooting the assailant.

Both Serbian and Israeli officials indicated that terrorism appeared to be the motive.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic reported that the terrorist shot a bolt at the officer, hitting him in the neck. The officer then “used a weapon in self-defense to shoot the attacker, who died from his injuries.”

The wounded policeman was conscious when transported to Belgrade’s main emergency hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the bolt. Hospital officials stated that he was in stable condition post-operation.

Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic visited the injured officer in the hospital, promising a stringent crackdown on “terrorists.”

“We are hunting them down,” Vucic said. “We will have no mercy for terrorism in Serbia.”

An Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman confirmed the incident as an attempted terrorist attack near the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. He noted that the embassy was closed and no embassy staff were injured.

Israel’s ambassador to Belgrade, Yahel Vilan, expressed shock over the “terrorist attack” and praised the Serbian police officer for his bravery in preventing the attack. Vilan expressed confidence that the investigation would identify those responsible and help maintain Serbia’s safety.

Dacic informed reporters that the investigation was ongoing, but initial indications pointed to terrorism. He identified the attacker as a 25-year-old Serb who had converted to Islam. Police are investigating his possible network and ties with foreign terrorist groups after another person was arrested near the scene.

“There are indications that those are individuals already known to the security services… the Wahhabi movement,” Dacic said, referring to the hard-line Islamist group.

Authorities have raised the security alert in Belgrade, including at foreign embassies, government buildings, shopping malls, and other busy areas.

Israel’s embassy is located near the U.S. Embassy in an upscale Belgrade district and is guarded by an elite police unit equipped with automatic weapons.

Serbia has maintained close relations with Israel during the war in Gaza.