Israel's foreign ministry on Wednesday confirmed an "attempted terrorist attack" near its embassy in Belgrade, adding that no embassy personnel were injured and the incident was under investigation.

"The attacker was neutralised by local police. No embassy personnel were injured, and the mission was closed at the time of the incident, which occurred late at night. The incident is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities," the ministry posted on X.

Serbian authorities said the attacker was armed with two knives and wounded a policeman who was guarding the embassy entrance.

He was shot dead at the scene.

“One minor, of so far undetermined identity, who is reasonably suspected to be from (the western city of) Šabac, rushed at an officer of the Gendarmerie shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and attacked him with two knives,” Ivica Dacic said in an emailed statement.

In a statement, the Belgrade-based Higher Public Prosecution Office said that an investigation showed that a black-clad unidentified individual opened the door of a guard house in front of the embassy and, armed with two knives, rushed at the policeman, identified only by the initials D.S.

"The unidentified person threw one knife in the direction of D.S., hitting him in the left cheek. After that, D.S. took out his service weapon and fired several shots at the attacker, killing him on the spot," it said, adding that the policeman's action was qualified as justified and in self-defence.

The investigation was continuing, it said.

Dacic added that he had raised Serbia's security threat level to red, the highest, and that there would be an increased police presence at key locations.

It is the second such attack at the Israeli embassy in Belgrade in two years.

In June 2024, an assailant shot a Serbian police officer in the neck with a crossbow. (Agencies)



Edited by Tony Sabine