A man armed with a loaded crossbow launched an attack on Israel’s Embassy in Serbia this morning in an ‘act of terrorism’.
He fired a bolt at military force officers guarding the building in the capital city of Belgrade, shooting one of them in the neck.
Local media reported that the attacker repeatedly approached the police station to ask a question before unleashing his weapon.
The officer responded, shooting at the assailant and killing him. He died from his wounds at the scene.
It is understood that he suffered ‘serious injuries’, but was still conscious when the paramedics arrived at the scene.
Interior minister Ivica Dacic has since declared this a ‘terrorist attack – the first in more than 10 years.
He said in a statement that the man was suspected to be the Wahhabi movement – a reformist religious movement within Sunni Islam – but this claims is yet to be confirmed.
The identity of the attacker is still being determined. His motives also remain unknown.
Dacic said the officer ‘used his weapon in self-defence to shoot the attacker, who died as a result of his injuries’.
The victim was transported to Belgrade’s main emergency hospital, where he will undergo an operation to remove the bolt from his neck..
‘All the circumstances of the attack and possible motives are being investigated,’ Dacic said.
Since the beginning of the escalation of the war in Gaza on October 7, Serbia has has maintained close relations with Israel.
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