Italian “Sniper Tourism” in Bosnia War Under Probe; Wealthy Shooters Accused of Killing Civilians

Italian prosecutors in Milan have opened an extraordinary investigation into allegations that wealthy Italian nationals paid large sums of money to travel to Bosnia during the 1992–1995 war and kill civilians for sport. The inquiry focuses on what authorities have termed “sniper tourism,” a disturbing phenomenon that allegedly unfolded during the siege of Sarajevo—considered Europe’s most violent conflict since World War II.

According to the emerging details, affluent Italians with a strong interest in weaponry allegedly paid up to €100,000 to be transported by Bosnian Serb forces to strategic positions overlooking Sarajevo. From these elevated sites, they reportedly carried out random sniper attacks on defenceless men, women and even children as the city endured one of the longest sieges in modern history. Reports also suggest that different fees were charged depending on whether the target was an adult or a child.

The siege formed part of a brutal campaign led by Bosnian Serb forces under Radovan Karadžić, who was later convicted for genocide and crimes against humanity. The conflict saw the ethnic cleansing of Bosniak Muslims, who constituted nearly half the population. More than 100,000 people were killed, and over 2.2 million were displaced across the region. The Srebrenica massacre of July 1995—where more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered—remains Europe’s only legally recognised genocide after World War II.

The current probe was triggered by a complaint from investigative journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, who revisited the allegations after watching the 2022 documentary Sarajevo Safari. Directed by Slovenian filmmaker Miran Zupanič, the documentary claimed that “sniper tourists” came not just from Italy, but also from the United States, France, Germany and Russia. Gavazzeni’s 17-page report, based on testimonies from Bosnian Serb military personnel and senior Bosnian officials, was submitted to Milan prosecutors earlier this year.

Italian investigators are now working to identify the individuals allegedly involved. If their participation is confirmed, they could face charges of voluntary murder aggravated by extreme cruelty and perverse motives—serious offences under Italian law.

The probe signals a renewed push in Europe to revisit unresolved wartime atrocities from the Balkan conflict. As more survivor testimonies, archival material and documentary accounts emerge, long-hidden crimes continue to come to light, raising fresh questions about international accountability and the lingering wounds left by the Bosnia War.