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Serious concern has gripped the Jewish community in Belgrade following another terrorist attack near the Israeli Embassy in the Serbian capital.

Rabbi Yehoshua Kaminetzky, the Rebbe’s Shliach in Belgrade, is warning that other Jewish institutions could also become targets and is urging local authorities to take significant steps to protect Jews and Israelis in the country.

The latest attack took place shortly after midnight on Wednesday, October 28, when an assailant armed with two knives attacked a Serbian Gendarmerie officer guarding the Israeli Embassy.

According to Serbian authorities, the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he charged the officer. One of the knives struck the guard in the cheek, causing a minor injury. The officer then opened fire, killing the attacker in self-defense.

Serbian authorities are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said the attacker was a minor, believed to be from the western Serbian town of Šabac, and that security agencies had been monitoring him. She also said the suspect was a supporter of the Islamic State group and had displayed its flag and symbols on his Instagram account.

Following the attack, Serbia raised its terror threat level to the highest setting and increased police deployments at key locations.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that no embassy personnel were injured, as the embassy was closed at the time.

The latest incident marks the second attack near the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade in just over two years. In June 2024, an assailant armed with a crossbow attacked a Serbian police officer guarding the embassy, seriously wounding him. The officer shot and killed the attacker.

In a further development, Serbian media outlets reported, citing police sources, that the latest attacker had been arrested in Munich in May on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. He was reportedly deported to Serbia in July.

According to the report, he had described his radicalization online and his interest in targeting the Jewish community in Munich. Serbian authorities have not publicly confirmed these specific details.

Speaking with Walla, Rabbi Kaminetzky warned that the threat is not limited to the embassy compound and that Jewish institutions must also prepare for the possibility of an attack.

He explained that while the embassy is heavily guarded and surrounded by security measures, the Chabad House and local Shuls welcome large numbers of Jews and Israelis every week, making increased protection essential. The Chabad House in Belgrade hosts dozens of Israelis every Friday night for Shabbos.

Rabbi Kaminetzky noted that although police are stationed near Jewish institutions on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim, the current level of security is insufficient given the situation. He is calling on the Serbian government to take full responsibility and strengthen protection around the shuls, Chabad House and Jewish community.

The changing security situation has also affected the Shliach and his family in their daily lives. Rabbi Kaminetzky described how his sense of security has changed since the outbreak of the war, and how he is now more cautious about displaying visible signs of his Jewish identity in public.

Before the war, he said, he would walk proudly through the streets wearing a Yarmulka and Tzitzis openly. Today, however, he goes out wearing a hat and keeps his Jewish identity less visible in order to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

The Shliach emphasized that while significant parts of the Serbian population maintain positive attitudes toward Israel, concerns remain over extremist elements, and the latest incidents demand serious attention to the security of Jewish institutions.

Rabbi Yehoshua Kaminetzky and his wife, Miri, have served as the Rebbe’s Shluchim in Belgrade for 19 years. Over the years, they have established and developed extensive Jewish activities, including a shul, educational institutions, Shabbos meals and community programs throughout the year.

Serbia’s longstanding Jewish community numbers approximately 2,000 people. In recent years, an Israeli community of around 200 people has also developed in the city, including families and high-tech professionals who have moved there. The Chabad House provides spiritual and communal support to local Jews and Israelis visiting the country.

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