Investigation into “Human Safaris” in Sarajevo
Italian prosecutors are currently looking into claims suggesting that wealthy foreigners paid over $90,000 for the chance to participate in “human safaris” in Sarajevo during the 1990s. Allegations indicate that additional fees were charged for the killings of children, which is quite shocking.
This inquiry began after an Italian writer reported findings that indicated affluent gun lovers, dubbed “sniper tourists,” allegedly funded Bosnian Serb forces to indiscriminately shoot at residents throughout a four-year siege in the city, as noted by The Guardian.
From 1992 to 1996, during the Balkan Wars, around 10,000 people in Sarajevo lost their lives due to sniper fire and artillery attacks.
Ezio Gavazzeni, the investigative writer behind this report, stated, “People from all over, including Germans, French, and British, were lured in to shoot civilians for substantial amounts of money.” He emphasized that these actions were devoid of any political or religious motives. “These were wealthy individuals seeking thrill and personal satisfaction, likely the kind who enjoy shooting ranges or safaris elsewhere,” he added.
Gavazzeni first encountered reports about such tourist-led shootings in Italian media during the 1990s. His recent interest was re-ignited after watching a 2022 documentary featuring a former Serb soldier who claimed that foreigners would shoot from a hilltop in Sarajevo. He’s stated that a former Bosnian intelligence officer is his primary source for this investigation.
The Milan prosecutor’s office is now spearheading the investigation, focusing on identifying Italians implicated in this so-called sniper tourism.
Gavazzeni mentioned that he has already identified some Italians allegedly involved and that these individuals would be soon investigated further. The Bosnian consulate in Milan has announced that the Bosnian government will offer “full cooperation” during this inquiry.
A spokesperson expressed hope for uncovering the truth about such a brutal chapter in history, stating, “I have received certain information that I plan to share with law enforcement authorities.”
