In a chilling revival of wartime horror, Italian prosecutors have opened a probe into alleged tourist sniper killings of civilians in Sarajevo during the 1992-1996 siege of the city. The investigation centres on claims that wealthy foreigners paid to be flown into the deathscape of wartime Sarajevo so they could shoot defenseless residents for sport. Al Jazeera+2RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty+2
Background of the Allegations
The siege of Sarajevo, one of modern Europe’s longest, left thousands dead and traumatized. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty+2Wikipedia+2 Now new judicial activity in Italy suggests that beyond the known sniper campaign, there may have been an even more disturbing layer: organised excursions for target practice on civilians. According to the complaint filed in Milan by journalist Ezio Gavazzeni and others, a network of “war tourists” from Italy (and possibly other countries) paid to be taken to positions on the hills overlooking Sarajevo to fire on the besieged population. Al Jazeera+1
Participants are alleged to have assembled in Trieste in northern Italy, taken charter flights to Belgrade or nearby bases, then been transported to Bosnian Serb army positions. There they were purportedly given access to rifles and free rein to shoot civilians—men, women and even children. The complaint cites a “price list” for different victims, with children allegedly commanding the highest payment. Al Jazeera+1
What the Investigation Looks Into
The probe by the Milan prosecutor’s office, led by Alessandro Gobbi, has classified the alleged crimes under voluntary homicide aggravated by cruelty and base motives. Al Jazeera+1 The investigators aim to identify the Italian and possibly other foreign nationals involved, and to uncover the logistical chain that transported them from Italy to Bosnia during the siege.
Key questions the investigation is exploring:
- Who organised and facilitated the trips from Italy into the war-zone, and how were they financed?
- Who provided access to military positions held by the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) overlooking Sarajevo?
- What evidence exists—flight logs, payments, witness statements, military intelligence reports—that link foreign nationals to these “sniper tourism” operations?
- Will the Italian system succeed in holding individuals accountable for wartime atrocities that happened abroad?
Wider Implications & Local Response
For survivors of the siege of Sarajevo, these revelations reopen old wounds. Parents still mourning children killed by sniper fire say the very idea of foreign hobby-killers paying to take human lives is beyond comprehension. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty+1
Bosnian authorities had already opened a case following the 2022 documentary Sarajevo Safari by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič, which brought the allegations into the public domain. Wikipedia+1 However, the Italian move is especially significant because it may bring fresh momentum to a process that has largely stalled in Bosnia itself. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Challenges and Considerations
There are significant hurdles ahead:
- The events in question occurred in the early 1990s; locating reliable evidence, witnesses and logs will be difficult.
- Some alleged perpetrators now reside in jurisdictions that may resist extradition or cooperation. Bosnian officials have noted the backlog and lack of progress in war-crimes investigations. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
- Parties implicated deny the allegations. The VRS and Serbian intelligence have categorically rejected the idea that “sniper safaris” existed. Al Jazeera+1
- Public interest and political will are essential. Without sustained media and civil-society pressure, such cases often fade from view.
Why This Matters
The alleged phenomenon of “tourist sniper killings” represents a deeply disturbing form of war-tourism: armed visitors exploiting a conflict zone for recreational violence. The investigation shines a light not just on the siege of Sarajevo but also on themes of impunity, wealth and access in wartime atrocities.
For victims and survivors, pursuing accountability—even decades later—can be a form of recognition and redress.
What to Watch Next
In the coming months observers will look for:
- Whether indictments are filed in Milan and which individuals are named.
- Whether Bosnian and Italian authorities coordinate to share evidence and conduct joint investigations.
- Whether foreign nationals (beyond Italy) become subjects of the probe.
- How victims’ groups in Bosnia respond and whether new testimony emerges.
- Whether the case sparks renewed interest in other unresolved sniper campaigns from the siege that killed thousands.
