Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday that based on the information available the attack carried out in front of the government offices in St Mark's Square on Monday had elements of a terrorist act.

“The police and state prosecutors are looking into the circumstances surrounding this crime. However, what we need to raise as an issue is the motive and reasons for this act which, according to the information we have for now, also has elements of a terrorist act,” Plenkovic said at a cabinet meeting.

The 22-year-old attacker committed suicide shortly after the attack, while the wounded police officer, Oskar Fiuri, has been hospitalised and is recovering. Plenkovic, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and national chief of police Nikola Milina visited him in the hospital on Tuesday.

“We are glad that he feels well. I give my support to him and his family and I thank the doctors at Vinogradska Hospital for the care provided. We wish him a speedy recovery,” the prime minister said.

Given that security measures have been stepped up in St Mark’s Square after the incident, Plenkovic said that the measures were temporary. “Any further measures to protect the buildings and premises will be defined and changed in accordance with security assessments,” he added.

Plenkovic said that in balancing these measures account should be taken of “the culture of openness and accessibility of all of us individually and of the Croatian institutions.”

He said that the new security arrangements would not in any way affect the possibility for representatives of the media to report on government activities and cover government sessions.

He announced a press conference for 1pm on all current topics.