Man Linked to ISIS Attacks Israeli Embassy Guard in Serbia

An attacker armed with two knives assaulted a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday morning, according to local authorities. The assailant shouted "Allahu Akbar" before stabbing the officer in the face. The officer, lightly wounded, managed to draw his weapon and shoot the attacker, killing him. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić announced that the country's terror alert level has been raised to its highest, "red," with increased police and special forces presence nationwide to prevent further incidents. Authorities are treating the assault as a terror attack and are investigating its circumstances.

Further details revealed that the attacker was known to security services as a supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS) and had displayed symbols associated with the group on his Instagram account. It remains unclear if he acted alone or as part of an organized cell, and how he managed to reach the embassy despite being monitored.

This is not the first attack on the Israeli embassy in Belgrade. In June 2024, an assailant armed with a crossbow attacked a guard, hitting him in the neck. The guard, though severely injured, returned fire and killed the attacker. That assailant was later identified as Miloš Žujović, who had converted to Islam, adopted the name Salah ad-Din, and was linked to ISIS ideology, having sworn allegiance to its leader.

The Belgrade incident adds to a series of attacks targeting Israeli diplomatic missions globally. In April 2025, a man received a life sentence in Britain for attempting to breach the Israeli embassy in London with knives. In April of this year, three armed individuals engaged in a shootout with Turkish police near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, resulting in one attacker killed, two injured, and two police officers lightly wounded.

These events underscore the expanding threat landscape for Israelis abroad, even in destinations previously considered safe. France, Austria, and Australia are now classified at threat level 2 by Israel's National Security Council (NSC), requiring heightened caution due to potential hostility and incitement. The NSC has urged Israelis overseas to be vigilant against attacks, advising them to downplay identifying markers, avoid demonstrations, and refrain from posting real-time locations on social media.