Belgrade: gendarme kills knife attacker at Israeli embassy
Gendarme D. S. was lightly injured when attacked with two knives in Belgrade around 12:15 a.m. The attacker was killed, and Dacic raised the terror threat to red.
A member of the Belgrade Gendarmerie unit, identified as D. S., was attacked around 12:15 a.m. on October 28 outside the Israeli Embassy in Dedinje. The attacker died at the scene after the gendarme used his service pistol. The injured officer has a cut on his left cheek.
Interior Minister in a caretaker capacity Ivica Dacic called the incident a terrorist attack and ordered the terror threat level raised to the highest, red level.
What did prosecutors find?
The on-duty public prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade carried out an on-site investigation. According to the prosecutors’ statement, the attacker is a so far unidentified person dressed in black. The person opened the door of the security booth where D. S. was stationed and advanced on him with two knives, shouting “Allahu akbar.” One knife was thrown at the gendarme and hit him in the left cheek.
The gendarme then drew his service weapon and fired several shots. The exact number of shots has not been disclosed. After the on-site investigation, prosecutors concluded that the use of the weapon was justified. The statement, as relayed by the Novi Sad portal 021, reads:
“After the on-site investigation, it was established that the use of the service firearm was justified as self-defense.”
Other media report the same conclusion as justified in necessary defense. The prosecutors say the examination of the remaining circumstances of the incident continues.
What did Dacic say?
The minister said the attacker was a minor, suspected to be from Sabac. At the same time, he said the person’s identity has not been established:
“A minor, of as yet undetermined identity, reasonably suspected to be from Sabac.”
Dacic also added what Kurir relays as his statement about the attacker:
“Although his identity has not yet been established, our service had been monitoring him and it is known that he was a supporter of the Islamic State. On his Instagram profile he kept a black flag and the Islamic State symbol.”
On the investigation, he said only: “The investigation is under way and all details will be known during the night.” He visited the injured gendarme together with police director Dragan Vasiljevic. According to Dacic, D. S. is feeling well and should be released to go home the same day.
The red level, as he explained it, means stepped-up checks and a police presence at important locations, especially around infrastructure facilities and places where larger crowds gather.
What is still unknown?
Sources diverge on the attacker. The Interior Ministry (MUP) and the minister speak of a minor of undetermined identity, while prosecutors describe an unknown person. Kurir, citing unofficial information, reports that he is an 18-year-old from Bela Reka near Sabac. The same paper writes that he was listed as missing, and according to other media, also unofficially, his parents reported him missing before the attack. His name is not being published, because official confirmation of his identity and age is lacking.
Kurir also reports that the suspect had earlier been deported from Germany over social media posts. No official source was given for this.
Israel’s Ambassador to Serbia Avivit Bar-Ilan told reporters: “We are deeply disturbed and shocked by the terrorist attack on the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade.” She spoke with Dacic and described the attack as a threat to everyone and to world peace.
A second attack at the same spot
This is not the first time police at this post have been targeted. On June 29, 2024, gendarme Milos Jevremovic was hit in the neck by a crossbow bolt while guarding the same embassy. Despite the wound he returned fire and killed the attacker, then underwent emergency surgery and recovered.
