TELEGRAF AT THE SCENE: Terrorist attack near Israeli embassy in Belgrade, armed special police outside!

A Telegraf.rs portal team is at the scene outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade, where a terrorist attack took place shortly after midnight, according to an official statement issued by Serbia's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP).

Two fully equipped special police officers are currently stationed outside the building, securing the location where a violent confrontation occurred just 15 minutes after midnight.

Outgoing Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic confirmed that the incident was an act of terrorism and that the attacker was a minor who assaulted an on duty member of the Gendarmerie.

"A minor, whose identity has not yet been established but who is reasonably suspected to be from Sabac, attacked a member of the Gendarmerie with two knives while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'," Dacic said.

Gendarme reacts in split second

Although caught by surprise, the gendarme reacted professionally and calmly, using his service weapon in self-defense.

"The Gendarmerie officer neutralized (shot and killed) the attacker in self-defense, but was also lightly injured in the incident, sustaining a cut to his face from a knife used in the attack,” the minister stated.

Dacic, together with Police Director General Dragan Vasiljevic, visited the injured Gendarmerie officer. The officer is feeling well and is expected to be discharged from the hospital later in the day.

Attacker was under surveillance for ISIS links

Although the official identification process is still underway, police already had information about the individual’s extremist activities.

"The investigation is ongoing, and all the details will be known during the night. 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. His Instagram profile displayed a black flag and the symbol of the Islamic State," said Dacic.

Red terrorism alert across country

After the MUP classified the incident as a terrorist attack, the country's security services moved to the highest state of alert.

"Given that a terrorist attack has occurred in our territory, as interior minister responsible for this matter, I have raised the terrorism threat level to the highest possible level, namely to red alert,” Dacic announced.

This measure involves increased security checks and a greater police presence at all key locations of security importance, including critical infrastructure facilities and public places where large numbers of people gather.

The investigation is ongoing.

(Telegraf.rs)