An attacker armed with a crossbow injured a Serbian police officer who was guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade on Saturday, according to Serbia’s Interior Ministry. The injured officer responded by fatally shooting the assailant.
Both Serbian and Israeli officials suspect terrorism as the motive behind the attack.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the attacker fired a bolt at the officer, striking him in the neck. The officer defended himself by using a weapon, resulting in the death of the attacker.
The wounded policeman was conscious as he was transported to Belgrade’s main emergency hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the bolt from his neck. Hospital officials reported that he was in stable condition after the operation.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist leader, visited the injured officer in the hospital and vowed a strong crackdown against “terrorists.”
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“We are hunting them down,” Vucic stated. “We will have no mercy for terrorism in Serbia.”
A spokesman from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there 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 at the terrorist incident and gratitude for the brave Serbian police officer who prevented the attack. He expressed confidence in the investigation to identify those responsible and ensure Serbia remains a safe country.
Minister Dacic informed reporters that investigations were ongoing, indicating terrorism as the likely motive. He identified the attacker as a 25-year-old Serb and mentioned the arrest of another individual near the scene for further investigation.
Authorities have heightened security measures in Belgrade, including embassies, government buildings, and public spaces. Israel’s embassy in Belgrade, situated near the U.S. Embassy, is guarded by a specialized police unit armed with automatic weapons.
Serbia has maintained strong ties with Israel during the conflict in Gaza.
