Belgrade police arrest man with crossbow, days after Israeli embassy attack

Belgrade police on Monday arrested a man who approached a police station carrying a backpack with a crossbow, two days after a crossbow attack at the Israeli embassy in the Serbian capital, police said.

In a statement, police authorities said the man crossed a barrier in front of the station and, after being ordered to stop, hurriedly started to walk away. Officers then caught up with him and carried out a search.

“In his backpack, a crossbow with seven arrows, several knives, and a jar with firecrackers were found. Motives are being investigated and a search of his apartment is being conducted,” police said.

It said the suspect was not on the government’s list of potential “extremists”, without adding details.

Police said he claimed that he was “being pursued by the mafia and secret services”.