Italian authorities are conducting a major investigation into horrific allegations of 'sniper safaris' that took place during the brutal siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s.
Prosecutors claim that wealthy individuals from several nations paid large sums to Bosnian Serb forces for the chance to shoot at innocent civilians trapped in the city.
The Chilling Details of the 'Safaris'
According to the investigation, foreigners from countries including Italy, the United States, and Russia participated in these organised killing trips.
They allegedly paid between €80,000 and €100,000 for the experience, which involved being taken to sniper positions overlooking the besieged city by Bosnian Serb militias.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is the reported existence of a 'price list' for different types of victims. Witnesses claim that children were the most expensive targets, followed by men, women, and finally elderly people.
Investigation and International Outcry
The probe was initiated by former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic, who sought justice for the victims of these alleged atrocities.
Italian prosecutors are now focusing their efforts on identifying any Italian nationals who may have participated, with the intention of charging them with 'voluntary homicide'.
Witness testimony suggests these 'war tourism' excursions were organised from the Italian city of Trieste, highlighting the international dimension of this grim chapter from the Bosnian War.
A Legacy of Trauma
The siege of Sarajevo, which lasted from 1992 to 1996, remains one of the most traumatic events of the Balkan conflicts.
These new allegations of 'sniper safaris' add a further layer of horror to the suffering endured by the city's residents, who faced daily terror from sniper fire and shelling.
If proven, these acts represent one of the most grotesque forms of war crimes, turning human tragedy into a perverse form of entertainment for the wealthy.
