SARAJEVO, BOSNIA – Wealthy foreigners allegedly paid tens of thousands of pounds to participate in “weekend war safaris” during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, according to Italian authorities investigating the claims. The foreigners, from Italy, the US, Russia, and other countries, are accused of paying Bosnian Serb militias to shoot civilians “for fun,” with higher payments charged to target children or armed men.
Investigators say the participants were motivated by far-right ideology, sympathy for the Serbian cause, or sheer bloodlust. The operation reportedly involved transporting foreigners from Trieste, Italy, to the hills surrounding Sarajevo, where they were allowed to fire at terrified civilians under the command of wartime leader Radovan Karadzic.
Price List for Human Targets
Italian prosecutors claim there was even a “price tag” for the killings: children cost more, followed by armed men in uniform, then women, and finally the elderly, who were allegedly targeted for free. The attackers reportedly used modern sniper rifles, with the amateurs handling the weapons like novices in urban combat. A UN report during the siege noted over 11,500 deaths, making it the longest European urban siege since World War II.
Investigation Launched in Italy
Prosecutors in Milan are now trying to identify Italians allegedly involved in the killings, with potential charges including “voluntary homicide aggravated by cruelty and abject motives.” They are being assisted by Italy’s Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale (ROS), a specialized police unit tackling organized crime and terrorism.
Former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic filed a complaint “against persons unknown,” which has reignited attention on the decades-old allegations. Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, along with lawyers and a former judge, are pursuing the case to bring justice for the victims.
Eyewitness Testimonies and Historical Evidence
Multiple eyewitness accounts confirm that foreigners paid to shoot civilians. Former US Marine John Jordan testified at the UN tribunal in 2007, describing “tourist shooters” firing at Sarajevo residents for personal gratification. Former Bosnian intelligence officer Edin Subasic confirmed that captured Serbian soldiers provided information about the arrangement.A Russian nationalist, Eduard Limonov, was filmed firing from the hills around Sarajevo in 1992, exemplifying the type of foreign involvement described in the allegations.
Controversy and Reactions
The documentary “Sarajevo Safari” (2022) brought renewed attention to these claims. Bosnian Serbs, including veterans’ leader Veljko Lazic, have denounced the film as a “heinous lie” and an insult to the victims and Serbian forces. Despite the controversy, Italian authorities continue to examine evidence and testimonies to hold those responsible accountable, highlighting the unresolved legacies of the Bosnian War.
