Prosecutors in Milan have launched an investigation into allegations that Italians and other westerners paid Bosnian Serb soldiers for the chance to shoot civilians during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. The so-called 'sniper tourists' are accused of participating in the massacre for pleasure, with the investigation focusing on charges of voluntary murder aggravated by cruelty and abject motives.
The inquiry, led by prosecutor Alessandro Gobbi, stems from a legal complaint by Milan-based writer Ezio Gavazzeni and a report from former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karić. Gavazzeni said he began investigating after watching the 2022 documentary 'Sarajevo Safari' by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič, which features claims from a former Serb soldier and a contractor that westerners shot at civilians from the hills around Sarajevo.
Gavazzeni alleged that 'many, many, many Italians' were involved, along with Germans, French, and English individuals. He described them as wealthy people who loved guns and participated for fun, without political or religious motivations. The suspects are said to have met in Trieste, travelled to Belgrade, and then been escorted by Bosnian Serb soldiers to the hills surrounding Sarajevo.
The siege of Sarajevo, lasting from 1992 to 1996, was the longest in modern history, with over 10,000 people killed by shelling and sniper fire. Snipers were particularly feared for randomly targeting civilians, including children. The main street, Meša Selimović Boulevard, was known as 'Sniper Alley' due to the constant danger.
Gavazzeni has identified some Italian individuals allegedly involved, who are expected to be questioned by prosecutors in the coming weeks. Lawyer Nicola Brigida, who helped prepare the case, stated that the evidence is well substantiated and could lead to serious investigations to identify the culprits.
