Belgrade Israeli Embassy Attack: Serbian Police Officer Injured, Assailant Killed

09:45

A knife attack outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade left a Serbian police officer with minor injuries early Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after the officer fatally shot the assailant, according to Serbian authorities. The incident has prompted an immediate tightening of security across the country.

The attack occurred shortly after midnight, when an individual armed with two knives allegedly targeted a member of Serbia's Gendarmerie responsible for guarding the diplomatic mission. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the officer responded with lethal force in self-defence, killing the attacker during the confrontation.

The wounded officer sustained a minor injury to the head or face, according to official accounts. Israeli authorities confirmed that no embassy staff were injured and said the mission was closed at the time of the incident.

Serbia Raises Security Alert to Its Highest Level

Serbian authorities are treating the incident as a suspected terrorist attack. Dacic announced that the national security alert had been raised to its highest level, with additional police deployed to sensitive locations and key public sites.

The interior minister also said the suspect was believed to be a minor whose identity had not yet been definitively established. According to his account, security agencies had previously been monitoring the individual over suspected sympathies with the Islamic State group.

Dacic cited the suspect's alleged online activity, including the display of the group's black flag on an Instagram account. These details form part of the authorities' preliminary assessment, while the circumstances and possible motives behind the attack remain subject to investigation.

The incident has renewed attention to the security challenges facing diplomatic missions, particularly those operating under heightened threat conditions.

Israeli Embassy Confirms No Staff Were Harmed

Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed that an attempted attack had taken place near its embassy in the Serbian capital. It said the assailant had been neutralized by local police and stressed that no embassy employees were harmed.

The ministry also confirmed that the building was closed during the nighttime incident. Serbian authorities are continuing to investigate the attack and establish the full sequence of events.

The embassy's security arrangements have become a particular focus following the latest incident, given that the diplomatic mission was targeted in a similar episode in June 2024.

A Second Attack in Two Years

The latest assault recalls the June 2024 attack outside the same embassy, when a man armed with a crossbow shot a Serbian police officer in the neck. The injured officer returned fire, killing the attacker, while the incident was also investigated as a suspected terrorist act.

The recurrence of violence near the Israeli diplomatic mission underscores the importance of protective measures around foreign representations in Belgrade.

Serbia maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, and the embassy is protected by specialized police personnel. Authorities have not yet provided a complete account of the latest attacker's motivations or disclosed all the findings of the ongoing investigation.

Investigation Focuses on Motive and Security Implications

Investigators are expected to examine the suspect's background, alleged ideological affiliations and movements before the assault. Establishing whether the attack was directed by an organization or carried out independently will be an important part of determining its broader significance.

For now, Serbian officials have emphasized the need for increased vigilance and stronger protection at sensitive sites. The investigation remains ongoing, and further conclusions will depend on evidence gathered by law enforcement.