70-Year-Old Former Agent Shoots and Sets Fire to Pro-Vucic Camp Near Serbian Parliament

A 70-year-old man opened fire near Serbia’s parliament in Belgrade, igniting a blaze that destroyed a pro-government tent camp set up by supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić.

“In the heart of Belgrade, tension erupted into violence on Wednesday morning, October 22, 2025, as a fire and shooting broke out at a camp hosting loyalists of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic”

Evrim Ağacı

The shooting injured a 57-year-old man in the leg and hip before police detained a suspect.

Evrim Ağacı

Western Alternative outlet Mix Vale reports that the suspect was a 70-year-old former state security agent who opened fire and injured a 57-year-old pedestrian in the thigh.

The suspect then set fire to a tent, and police exchanged gunfire with the attacker.

Western Mainstream ABC states the man shot a 57-year-old man in the leg and then fired a gas canister, causing a fire.

However, ABC emphasizes that the circumstances of the shooting and the fire remain unclear, and local police have not commented.

Asian outlet The Indian Express notes that authorities have not yet identified the shooter or determined the cause of the recent blaze, though video showed a man detained.

Western Mainstream The Guardian also highlights the uncertainty, stating that the identity of the shooter and the cause of the fire remain unclear even as officers detained a person at the scene.

Western Mainstream Sky News reports that shots were fired during anti-government protests, with armed security approaching the tent before shots and fire, and one man detained.

Conflicting reports emerged about the suspect’s identity and background.

Asian outlet ANI News names the shooter and victim—a 70-year-old man named Vladan Andelkovic and a 57-year-old man, Milan Bogdanovic—and says the suspect was detained after throwing ammunition into the fire.

Traveling Lifestyle

Devdiscourse similarly reports Andelkovic threw ammunition into the flames and quotes President Vučić as dismissing any insanity defense due to Andelkovic's security background.

Western Alternative Mix Vale uniquely describes the attacker as a 70-year-old former state security agent.

In contrast, The Indian Express reports authorities have not yet identified the shooter, and Western Mainstream The Guardian likewise says the identity of the shooter remains unclear.

Traveling Lifestyle adds charging details: the suspect was detained and charged with attempted murder, causing public danger, and illegal firearm possession.

Competing narratives emerged over the motive and political meaning of the attack.

“Devdiscourse News Desk| Serbia Image Credit: ANI Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has condemned a dramatic shooting near the National Assembly in Belgrade, labeling it a 'terrible terrorist attack”

Devdiscourse

Euronews, representing Western mainstream media, reports that the suspect admitted he wanted police to kill him, expressing annoyance at the tents.

Firstpost, an Asian outlet, similarly states that the suspect reportedly confessed to being annoyed by the camp and wanting police to kill him.

President Vučić described the act as an awful terrorist attack and politically motivated, according to Euronews and Firstpost.

However, Mediaite, a Western alternative source, notes that authorities have not confirmed the suspect’s motive or any links to the protests.

Moneycontrol, an Asian source, emphasizes that the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

ABC and The Indian Express add that police had not commented at the time, and that the circumstances and shooter identity were still unclear in early reporting.

Reports diverged on the victim’s condition and the specifics of the injury.

ABC (Western Mainstream) says the victim is in stable condition but requires urgent surgery.

ANI News

Hindustan Times (Asian) likewise notes the injured required urgent surgery.

In contrast, ANI News (Asian) calls it a non-critical gunshot wound to the thigh.

Thedailyjagran (Other) specifies the man was shot in the hip.

Firstpost (Asian) says the victim was seriously wounded by a gunshot.

These variations underscore how assessments of severity differed across outlets and over time.

The attack unfolded amid long-running unrest over governance and accountability.

““It was a question of time before this would happen,” president rails amid months-long anti-government protests”

politico.eu

India Today (Asian) links the protests to a fatal train station awning collapse in Novi Sad last November that killed 16 people.

politico.eu

Mix Vale (Western Alternative) cites nearly a year of protests and calls this the first firearm-related incident of the movement.

Euronews (Western Mainstream) notes the pro-Vučić camp was set up in response to nearly year-long student protests.

Mediaite (Western Alternative) situates the incident ahead of a November 1 rally in Novi Sad tied to the canopy collapse.

Traveling Lifestyle (Other) broadens the context with U.S. Embassy warnings in 2025 to avoid large gatherings due to frequent, sometimes violent demonstrations.

West Asian outlet Evrim Ağacı and Asian Firstpost add the camp’s nickname 'Caciland' and describe it as a loyalist presence countering anti-government protests.

Accounts differ on whether these protests have been largely peaceful or involved violent confrontations.