Elderly Italian Suspect in Milan Probe Over Sarajevo 'Sniper Tourism' Allegations
An 80-year-old Italian man is currently under investigation by prosecutors in Milan for his alleged involvement in what has been described as 'sniper tourism' during the brutal siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. The former truck driver from the Veneto region in northern Italy faces charges of aggravated murder, according to a source close to the case, marking him as the first suspect identified since the inquiry commenced in November.
Chilling Details of the Alleged War Crimes
The investigation centres on claims that groups of Italians and other foreigners paid substantial sums to members of the Bosnian Serb army for the opportunity to shoot at civilians in Sarajevo for pleasure. These individuals, dubbed 'sniper tourists', are alleged to have been transported to the hills surrounding the city, where they could fire upon unsuspecting people during the four-year siege. Reports in the Italian press suggest the suspect bragged about 'conducting a manhunt', highlighting the disturbing nature of these accusations.
The Siege of Sarajevo: A Context of Horror
Between 1992 and 1996, Sarajevo endured the longest siege in modern history, resulting in the deaths of more than 10,000 people from shelling and sniper fire. The city's geographical location in a basin surrounded by mountains made it particularly vulnerable to attacks, with snipers becoming a feared element of daily life as they randomly targeted civilians, including children, on the streets. This period followed Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia, sparking intense conflict.
Origins of the Investigation and Key Evidence
The Milan investigation was initiated based on a legal complaint filed by Ezio Gavazzeni, a writer based in Milan who gathered evidence on these allegations, along with a report submitted by Benjamina Karić, the former mayor of Sarajevo. Gavazzeni first encountered reports about sniper tourists in the 1990s but was spurred to investigate further after watching the 2022 documentary Sarajevo Safari by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič. The film features testimonies from a former Serbian soldier and a contractor who claimed that westerners participated in shooting civilians, though Serbian war veterans have strongly denied these allegations.
The Human Cost and Symbolic Tragedies
Among the most poignant victims of sniper fire were Bošco Brkić and Admira Ismić, a couple whose deaths in 1993 while attempting to cross a bridge were documented in the film Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo. Their bodies lay in no man's land for days, with photographs of the scene becoming powerful symbols of the war's randomness and inhumanity. This case underscores the broader context of atrocities committed during the siege, including those by Radovan Karadžić, the former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of genocide in 2016.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and International Implications
Gavazzeni detailed to the Guardian how Italian suspects would allegedly meet in Trieste before travelling to Belgrade, from where Bosnian Serb soldiers escorted them to Sarajevo's hills. He described this as 'a traffic of war tourists' driven by 'an indifference towards evil'. The investigation continues to explore these claims, aiming to hold accountable those involved in these heinous acts, which have left a lasting scar on the history of the Bosnian war and international justice efforts.
