Italy Investigates 'Sniper Tourism' Claims During Bosnian War Siege of Sarajevo

WISE NEWS PRESS / ROME, ITALY — Nov. 13, 2025

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Milan, Italy, has launched an investigation into claims that wealthy Italians traveled to Sarajevo during the Bosnian War to engage in "sniper tourism" for entertainment, targeting civilians during the city's siege.

The investigation was initiated after Italian journalist and author Ezio Gavazzeni presented what he claimed was evidence. According to reports in the Italian press, some wealthy Italians, reportedly with far-right leanings, paid Serb soldiers "enormous" sums of money to act as snipers during the siege of Sarajevo (1992–1996).

La Repubblica newspaper summarized the allegations subject to the investigation:

"They fired at defenseless civilians from the hills above Sarajevo and paid the Serbs 'enormous' sums to do so—amounts reaching 80,000–100,000 euros in today's money."

The newspaper recalled that snipers were responsible for the deaths of many civilians during the siege, adding, "Among them were Italians."

'Weekend Snipers' and 'Sarajevo Safari'

The Italian press described these non-military individuals, who allegedly traveled to kill people "for fun," as "war tourists" and "weekend snipers."

According to the claims, these individuals would travel from the northern Italian city of Trieste to Belgrade on Fridays. From there, they would reach the hills overlooking Sarajevo, accompanied by Serb soldiers. After spending the weekend in the war zone, they would return home.

La Repubblica reports that three Italians from Turin, Milan, and Trieste are currently implicated in the investigation. However, the complainant, Ezio Gavazzeni, claims that the actual number is much higher, alleging that people from other countries, including Germany, France, and the UK, also paid large sums "to shoot civilians."

Gavazzeni suggested these individuals were not motivated by political or religious reasons but went sniping "for entertainment, like a safari." The investigation began after Gavazzeni watched the 2022 documentary "Sarajevo Safari," which claimed that people from various countries had traveled to the city to shoot at civilians.

The case file reportedly includes a report sent to the Milan Prosecutor's Office by former Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Karic concerning "wealthy foreigners engaged in inhuman activities." Karic and a former Bosnian intelligence officer may also be called to testify.

The Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the investigation under charges of aggravated murder, due to the alleged basis in "savagery and despicable motives." The Siege of Sarajevo subjected the city's population to nearly four years of shelling and sniper attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 11,000 people. The city's main street, Meša Selimović Boulevard, was infamously known as "Sniper Alley."

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