Italian prosecutors have opened a grim and deeply disturbing investigation into allegations that Italian nationals paid Bosnian Serb forces for the chance to shoot civilians during the siege of Sarajevo. The probe, led by Milan prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis, is examining whether wealthy “war tourists” travelled from Italy between 1993 and 1995, paid large sums of money, and were escorted to sniper positions overlooking the besieged city to fire at unarmed men, women, and even children.
The inquiry follows reports that these individuals, described as right-wing gun enthusiasts, allegedly paid up to 100,000 euros per day to Bosnian Serb units to participate in the killings. According to the accounts first uncovered in the documentary Sarajevo Safari and later amplified by Italian and Bosnian complaints, these foreigners were taken to the hills around Sarajevo, where they were allowed to shoot at civilians trapped in the city below. Italian journalist Ezio Gavanezzi, who filed a formal report after being approached by former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic, has estimated that at least 100 Italians were involved. Other reports suggest the number could be twice as high, in addition to foreign nationals from other countries.
Karic, who filed a separate complaint in Bosnia in 2022, said witness testimony and footage pointed to organised “excursions” during which wealthy outsiders were given precision rifles and access to military positions. She welcomed Italy’s decision to formally open an investigation, calling it an essential step toward accountability. The documentary revealed accounts of civilians being deliberately targeted, with children among the victims, during the nearly four-year siege that claimed more than 11,500 lives and wounded over 50,000 people.
The Milan investigation focuses on possible charges of voluntary manslaughter and raises troubling questions about war-time complicity, international responsibility, and the darker phenomenon of “war tourism.” If confirmed, the allegations would expose an unprecedented layer of brutality atop a conflict already marked by systematic violence against civilians.
