Knife attacker shot dead outside Israeli embassy in Belgrade

Attack outside the Israeli embassy

At just after midnight on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, a man armed with two knives rushed a Serbian gendarme who was on duty outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade. The officer was slightly wounded in the face before he fired a fatal shot that killed the attacker. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack. He announced that the country’s terror threat level had been raised to the highest tier and that police presence had been increased at key locations. The attacker was described by Dacic as a minor. According to reports, the individual originated from Šabac in western Serbia and was under surveillance by security forces due to his allegiance to the Islamic State militant group. The minister added that the assailant had posted a black flag in support of the group on his Instagram account.

Background

Over the last twenty-four months, the Israeli diplomatic mission in Belgrade has faced two separate hostile incidents. In June of 2024, a perpetrator used a crossbow to strike a Serbian law enforcement officer in the neck. This latest event marks the second occurrence of such an assault. The gendarme who was guarding the embassy is part of an elite unit of the Serbian gendarmerie. The officer’s response to the attack was to shoot the assailant in self‑defence, according to the statements released by the Belgrade‑based Higher Public Prosecution Office.

Why it matters

The incident has prompted a heightened security response in Serbia. By raising the terror alert to the highest level, authorities are signalling that the threat of further attacks is considered serious. The attack also underscores the ongoing risk to diplomatic missions in the region. The Israeli Foreign Ministry verified that the incident constituted an attempted act of terrorism and stated that no staff members at the embassy sustained injuries. The incident is currently under investigation by Serbian authorities.

What happens next

Serbian police have increased their presence at key sites following the attack. No further official statements have been released regarding additional measures or investigations beyond the initial declaration of a high terror alert. The case remains under investigation by the Higher Public Prosecution Office.