Early Wednesday morning, October 28, an attack took place on the security of the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, a gendarme on duty at the building was stabbed, but managed to shoot dead the attacker in self-defense. The incident, confirmed by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been classified as a «failed terrorist attack.» The event occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tension: just a few days earlier, early parliamentary elections were held in Serbia, and on Tuesday, a similar vote took place in Israel.
Course of the Attack and Police Actions
According to Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, the attack occurred shortly after midnight. The suspect, the ministry specified, was a minor: he approached the gendarme guarding the embassy and attacked him with two knives. The police officer sustained injuries, but returned fire and shot the attacker in self-defense. According to Dacic, the officer received minor facial injuries, his condition is stable, and his discharge from the hospital is expected the same day, October 28.
Authorities' Reaction: Maximum Threat Level
Following the incident, the Serbian authorities decided to raise the country's terrorist threat level to the highest. It was ordered to strengthen police presence and security checks in key locations across Belgrade and other cities. Agencies continue to investigate the circumstances of the attack and are working to identify those involved, who are believed to have come from the town of Sabac in western Serbia.
Political Context: Elections in Serbia and Israel
The attack coincided in time with the period immediately following two electoral campaigns. On Sunday, early parliamentary elections were held in Serbia, where long-standing head of state Aleksandar Vucic, according to results, lost to a youth movement that had been protesting against him for the past two years. On Tuesday, parliamentary elections also took place in Israel, where, according to post-vote polls, neither side stood out as a clear winner. The coincidence of the terrorist-like incident at the Israeli embassy with this electoral background heightens attention to the attacker's possible motives and connections.
What is Known About the Investigation
At the time of publication, officials have not disclosed all details of the case. It is confirmed that the attacker was a minor and acted with two knives, and the police officer used his weapon in self-defense. The authorities state that the investigation is ongoing and the full circumstances are being established, including the origin of the suspects from Sabac. The threat level in the country has been raised to maximum, which implies an enhanced operational mode for law enforcement agencies in the coming days.
