Italy Investigates 'War Tourists' Who Paid to Shoot Civilians in 1990s Sarajevo Siege
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Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations that wealthy, right-wing Italian gun enthusiasts, dubbed 'war tourists,' paid Bosnian Serb forces to shoot civilians in Sarajevo during the 1992-1996 siege. According to local media, the probe, opened by Milan prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis, aims to identify Italians who, between 1993 and 1995, paid to participate in the siege, targeting defenceless civilians for sport. The investigation was sparked by a complaint filed by Italian journalist Ezio Gavanezzi, who was contacted by former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic in August 2025. Karic had herself filed a complaint in Bosnia in 2022 after a documentary revealed the crimes. The documentary 'Sarajevo Safari' and witness statements suggest that members of the Bosnian Serb army organized 'excursions' for wealthy foreigners, allowing them to fire precision rifles from army positions above the city and kill or wound innocent civilians, including children. During the nearly four-year siege, Bosnian Serb forces killed 11,541 people and wounded over 50,000. The Italian investigation seeks to bring those responsible to justice, with estimates suggesting at least 100 Italians may have participated, along with foreigners from other countries.
