A 70-year-old former state security agent, Vladan Angelković, opened fire outside Serbia’s National Assembly in Belgrade on Wednesday, injuring a 57-year-old pedestrian, Milan Bogdanovic, in the thigh before setting fire to a tent occupied by supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić.
The suspect was apprehended by police after a brief exchange of gunfire, with authorities confirming the victim was hospitalized in stable condition, and charging him with attempted murder and weapons offenses. Additional ammunition was also found on the suspect, and he threw some cartridges into the flames after the shooting.
President Vučić labeled the incident a terrorist act and released CCTV footage of the arrest, in which the suspect stated he was annoyed by the "occupation of the city center" and wanted to die, claiming he set the tent on fire with gasoline to provoke a lethal police response.
"This vile and cowardly act was carried out by a citizen who worked in the state security service for 16 years (dismissed back in the 90s)," Vučić said. "The use of firearms and the political motive make this a clear case of terrorism....
“It was a question of time before this would happen,” said Vucic, who repeatedly has accused anti-government protesters of violence although their protests have largely been peaceful. “There were countless calls for this (shooting.)”
The Serbian government has increased security around the Parliament, erected new barriers in central Belgrade, and issued a real-time threat alert.
The attack occurred amid a year-long wave of protests sparked by the collapse of a train station roof in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people, leading to widespread criticism of government oversight. The tent targeted was part of an improvised camp, nicknamed "Chatziland," set up by pro-government supporters to block opposition demonstrators.
Opposition leaders condemned the violence but questioned the official terrorism narrative. The incident has heightened tensions in a politically volatile climate.
Angelković, who served in Serbia’s intelligence agency for over 16 years until 2009, was described by colleagues as reclusive post-retirement with no recent history of activism. He confessed to purchasing fuel for the fire and admitted to targeting the pedestrian by chance.
