Tel Aviv, 29 June 2024 (dpa/MIA) – A man who attacked a guard at the Israeli embassy in Belgrade with a crossbow has been shot and fatally wounded by the guard, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported on Saturday, citing state prosecutors.

The guard, a member of Serbia's Gendarmery, was injured in the neck and was taken to hospital, where he underwent an operation. His condition was reported to be stable.

His assailant has not thus far been identified.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić termed the attack an act of terrorism, and Prime Minister Miloš Vučević condemned it as an "abhorrent terrorist attack."

"The state of Serbia is in a position to react decisively to the threat from terrorism," he said, according to the RTS report.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the attack as attempted terrorism. No embassy staff had been injured, but the embassy had been closed temporarily, it said.

The guard had acted in self-defence, Serbian state prosecutors said. Investigations were proceeding into the identity of the assailant and the details surrounding the attack.

Citing hospital doctors, RTS reported that the crossbow bolt had been removed from the guard during the operation.