BELGRADE, Serbia

Serbian police arrested a man on Monday who entered the Internal Affairs Ministry compound in downtown Belgrade carrying a backpack with a crossbow inside.

Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic said the 56-year-old man disregarded orders to stop and then quickly walked out of the compound.

Dacic said the man was found to be carrying a crossbow with seven arrows, several knives and firecrackers in his backpack.

''We are investigating the motive. The person is not on the extremist watchlist. His apartment is being searched...A medical examination will be conducted, and the prosecutor will decide on further proceedings,” he added.

Serbian security services have been put on a heightened state of alert after a man in Belgrade was shot dead after attacking a police officer with a crossbow in front of the Israeli Embassy on Saturday.