A shocking act of violence shook the Serbian capital late Thursday evening when a 70-year-old man opened fire outside the National Assembly building in central Belgrade. The attacker shot and wounded a passerby before setting fire to a tent belonging to supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić.
According to police reports, the incident occurred near one of the temporary encampments maintained by Vučić’s backers, who have been demonstrating in support of the government for several weeks. Witnesses said the man fired several shots from a handgun, hitting a 57-year-old pedestrian in the thigh. The victim was quickly transported to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Moments after the shooting, the assailant reportedly doused the tent in flammable liquid, set it on fire, and then threw a handful of bullets into the flames before being subdued by security forces. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene and managed to contain the blaze before it spread to nearby structures.
Police arrested the suspect at the scene. He has not yet been publicly identified, but authorities confirmed that he is a Serbian national with no known history of terrorism. His motive remains under investigation.
President Aleksandar Vučić, responding swiftly to the attack, condemned the act as “a terrorist assault on the stability and unity of Serbia.” He called on citizens to remain calm and trust the country’s security institutions.
The area surrounding the parliament was cordoned off overnight as investigators gathered evidence. Forensic teams examined the burned remains of the tent and recovered several spent shell casings.
