Online Reporter
More than three decades after the siege of Sarajevo, Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into what may well be one of the darkest and least-known aspects of the Bosnian War, which ran from 1992 until 1995.
The investigation centres on so-called “hobby snipers” or “sniper tourists”. These were foreigners who allegedly paid to shoot at civilians in the city of Sarajevo, during what were called “Sarajevo safaris”. At the time, Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was besieged by Bosnian Serb forces.
The investigation was initiated after Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni and two lawyers handed a 17-page file on the events to Milan’s attorney-general’s office. Gavazzeni first became interested in the topic after reading about it, around 30 years ago.
Speaking to Western Balkans cable news channel N1, Gavazzeni explained that a 2022 documentary, “Sarajevo Safari”, by Slovenian director Miran Zupanic, had rekindled his interest and sparked his most recent investigations. — DW
