Serbian police shoot dead minor who attacked guard at Israeli embassy with two knives

Serbian police shot and killed a minor who attacked an elite officer guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade with two knives shortly after midnight on Wednesday. The incident occurred in a guard booth outside the diplomatic mission, which was closed at the time of the assault.

The attacker, identified as a resident of Sabac in western Serbia, opened the booth door and lunged at the officer, identified by the initials D.S. According to prosecutors, the assailant threw one knife and struck the officer on the left cheek before D.S. drew a weapon and fired multiple shots.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the officer was slightly injured in the face and acted in self-defense. Dacic noted that the attacker shouted Allahu Akbar during the confrontation. Security agencies had been monitoring the suspect, whom Dacic described as a supporter of the Islamic State group. The minister pointed to a black flag posted on the suspect's Instagram account as evidence of this affiliation.

In response to the violence, Serbia elevated its terror threat level to the maximum setting. Dacic ordered a reinforcement of police presence at key locations across the country. Israeli Foreign Ministry officials confirmed the attempt and said the investigation is being led by Serbian authorities. The embassy stated that no staff members were hurt during the late-night event.

The attack follows a series of major political shifts in the region. Serbia held early parliamentary elections on Sunday, where incumbent President Aleksandar Vucic was defeated by a youth-led movement after nearly two years of protests. Vucic's allies still control the police force because a new government has not yet been formed. Israel also held parliamentary elections on Tuesday, where exit polls indicated no clear winner.

This is the second time in under three years that a guard at this specific post has been attacked. In June 2024, an assailant using a crossbow injured a Serbian police officer at the same location. That attacker was also shot and killed by the guard. The Israeli embassy is located in an affluent district near the United States mission and is protected by elite units armed with automatic weapons.

Serbia has historically maintained close ties with Israel. The current security protocols involve heavy armed patrols in the immediate vicinity of the diplomatic quarter. Police photos from the scene show the guard booth surrounded by tape and fully armed officers standing watch.