Italian prosecutors probe shocking claims of “human safaris” during the Siege of Sarajevo
Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into disturbing allegations that wealthy Italian tourists paid as much as £70,000 each to shoot at civilians during the 1990s Siege of Sarajevo in Bosnia.
According to Milan court documents, the suspects—many with links to far-right circles—allegedly paid the Bosnian Serb army to participate in what were described as “human safaris”, where they opened fire on trapped residents from sniper positions.
Investigators say some participants paid extra to target children. During the war, Sarajevo’s infamous “Sniper Alley” became a deadly zone where civilians sprinted across open streets under constant gunfire.
Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni described the accused as “wealthy men, businessmen with reputations, who paid to kill unarmed civilians.”
Authorities in Bosnia and Italy believe more than 100 individuals may have taken part. Bosnian consul in Milan, Dag Dumrukcic, said his government was committed to uncovering the truth:
“We are eager to settle accounts with the past and contribute to the investigation.”
The siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996) left nearly 14,000 people dead, including 5,434 civilians. Former Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Stanislav Galic were later convicted of war crimes.
Prosecutors say this new inquiry seeks to deliver long-overdue justice for victims of one of Europe’s darkest modern atrocities.
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