In a fresh probe that has surprised many, Italian prosecutors are looking into claims that wealthy foreigners paid huge sums—up to $90,000 each—to shoot civilians in Sarajevo during the 1992‑1996 siege. The allegations say these “sniper tourists” used the city’s hills to fire on residents, even paying an extra fee to target children. The investigation is being led by a team in Milan, with key testimony from writer and investigator Ezio Gavazzeni.
The claims come after a documentary that highlighted how Serbian snipers used high ground to fire on the besieged population. Gavazzeni says he began digging into the story after seeing that film. “I read reports in the Italian press in the 1990s, but the documentary made me want to pursue the evidence further,” he told reporters.
Gavazzeni’s research points to a mix of Europeans: Germans, French, British, and others. According to him, these men were not motivated by politics or religion; they were simply “rich people who love guns.” “They treated it like a shooting range or a safari,” he added. A former Bosnian intelligence officer is named as a primary source, and Gavazzeni claims he has already identified some Italians who may have participated.
The Milan prosecutors plan to question the Italians in the coming weeks. The Bosnian consulate in Milan has pledged “total collaboration” and said it wants to close this dark chapter of history. “We are impatient to discover the truth about such a cruel matter,” a consulate spokesperson said, adding that it has documents it will share with investigators.
The case adds a new layer to the story of Sarajevo’s war death toll. Between 1992 and 1996, more than 10,000 civilians were killed by snipers and shelling. If the accusations are proven, the probe could shine fresh light on how foreign gun enthusiasts may have participated in the violence that defined the Balkan wars.
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