Attacker with Crossbow Wounds Serbian Police Officer at Israeli Embassy in Belgrade

An attacker armed with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer who was guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade on Saturday, according to Serbia’s Interior Ministry. The officer, in an act of self-defense, fatally shot the assailant. Both Serbian and Israeli officials have indicated that the motive behind the attack is likely terrorism.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the attacker fired a bolt at the officer, striking him in the neck. In response, the officer used his weapon to defend himself, resulting in the assailant’s death. The injured policeman was transported to Belgrade’s main emergency hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the bolt from his neck. Hospital officials have reported that he is in stable condition following the operation.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic visited the wounded officer in the hospital, vowing to crack down on “terrorists” and promising no mercy for terrorism in Serbia. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the incident, stating that it was an attempted terrorist attack near the Israeli Embassy. The embassy remains closed, and none of its employees were harmed.

Israel’s ambassador to Belgrade, Yahel Vilan, expressed shock over the “terrorist attack” and commended the Serbian police officer for his courageous actions in preventing the attack. Vilan expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation, believing that it will identify all responsible individuals and contribute to maintaining Serbia as a safe country.

Minister Dacic informed reporters that the investigation is ongoing, but initial indications point to terrorism as the motive. The attacker, a 25-year-old Serb who had converted to Islam, is being investigated for possible ties to foreign terrorist groups. Another individual was arrested near the scene of the shooting, prompting authorities to explore potential connections and networks. Dacic mentioned the Wahhabi movement, a hard-line Islamist group, as a possible affiliation.

In response to the incident, security alerts have been raised in Belgrade, encompassing foreign embassies, government buildings, shopping malls, and other crowded areas. The Israeli Embassy, located near the U.S. Embassy in an upscale district of Belgrade, is guarded by an elite police unit armed with automatic weapons.