Bosnia War’s ‘Sniper Tourism’: Italy Identifies First Suspect for Formal Investigation

Sources told Reuters that the suspect is an 80-year-old former truck driver living near Pordenone in northern Italy. His name has not been disclosed. This ongoing investigation, which began last year, considers him the first formally identified suspect.

Italian prosecutors state that during the Sarajevo blockade from 1992 to 1995, foreign nationals—including Italians—allegedly paid to shoot at civilians. This cruel act has been termed ‘sniper safari’ or ‘sniper tourism,’ compared to African safaris organized for hunting wild animals.

According to sources, the suspect faces allegations of multiple premeditated murders. However, it remains unclear whether he directly committed the killings or provided transportation and logistical support. He is currently free and has been ordered to appear before the prosecutors on February 9 for questioning.

During the Bosnia war, sniper attacks and shelling by Bosnian Serb forces around Sarajevo reportedly killed approximately 11,000 civilians. Local journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni filed a legal request, prompting Milan-based prosecutors to begin the investigation. Gavazzeni became interested in pursuing this after watching a 2022 documentary titled Sarajevo Safari.

According to a prominent Italian daily, during that time, foreign ‘tourists’ traveled to Sarajevo to participate in killings, paying up to 100,000 Euros. A price list was reportedly available for targeting civilians, with the highest payment for shooting children.

This renewed investigation has rekindled hope for justice among survivors of the Sarajevo siege. Even after three decades, there is now a possibility of holding perpetrators accountable for this horrific crime against humanity.