Serbian police shot and killed an assailant outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade just after midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Authorities reported that the individual, a minor Serbian citizen, attacked a police officer from an elite unit with two knives.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the attacker was believed to be from the western Serbian town of Sabac and was known to security services as a supporter of the Islamic State. Dacic said the suspect had posted an image of the group's flag on Instagram. The police officer, a member of the Gendarmerie guarding the embassy, sustained a minor knife wound to the face and fired at the attacker in self-defense.
Israel's foreign ministry confirmed that no embassy personnel were injured, as the mission was closed at the time of the incident. This event occurred one day after elections in Israel and three days after parliamentary elections in Serbia, where former President Aleksandar Vucic's allies were defeated. The Serbian interior minister classified the incident as a terrorist attack and raised the national threat level to "red alert."
The elevation of the national security status to its highest level, "red alert," involves increased police presence and stricter security checks. According to Dacic, these measures are focused at infrastructure facilities and areas where large crowds gather.
The incident marks the second such attack on the Israeli embassy in Belgrade in less than three years, following a June 2024 occurrence where a police officer was wounded with a crossbow. While a new government is expected to form following the recent defeat of former President Vucic, he and his allies remain in control of the police during this transition period.
An investigation into the suspect's background and potential associates is ongoing. Authorities stated the "red alert" status remains in effect.