Attacker injures police officer guarding Israeli embassy in Serbia

An attacker with a crossbow injured a Serbian policeman guarding the Israeli embassy in Belgrade on Saturday, the Serbian Interior Ministry said. The policeman responded by shooting the attacker.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said in a statement that the attacker fired a bolt at the police officer, hitting him in the neck. He said the police officer then “used a weapon in self-defense and shot the attacker, who died from his injuries.”

The police officer was conscious when he was taken to Belgrade’s largest emergency hospital, where the bolt from his neck will be surgically removed, it was said. The identity of the attacker is still being determined.

“All circumstances of the attack and possible motives are being investigated,” Dacic said.

Serbia maintains close relations with Israel despite Israel’s armed intervention in the Gaza Strip.