Wealthy individuals from overseas reportedly spent £70,000 on disturbing ‘human safari’ excursions where they allegedly shot and killed innocent civilians. Italian prosecutors have initiated an investigation into allegations that affluent Italian citizens and others traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1990s conflict for reprehensible “sniper tourism” trips.
Sarajevo, a city under siege for four years from 1992 to 1996, witnessed over 11,000 deaths due to sniper fire and shelling. A shocking complaint lodged in a Milan court alleges that some wealthy foreigners paid for the opportunity to target defenseless civilians, with varying fees based on the gender and age of the victims.
The case, which unfolded in a Milan court, accuses these visitors, reportedly linked to far-right organizations, of flying from Trieste to Belgrade via the Serbian airline Aviogenex. They would then proceed to the hills surrounding Sarajevo to target civilians from Serbian positions on the ground.
These so-called “human hunters” purportedly paid between £70,000 and £88,000 to engage in “weekend sniper” activities, taking aim at Bosnians already suffering from the brutal war. Different rates were allegedly charged based on the individuals targeted, with children said to command higher fees.
The allegations came to light after Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, supported by former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic, filed a detailed 17-page complaint with the courts. The tourists are accused of paying substantial sums to Radovan Karadžić, the former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of war crimes, and his army, which perpetrated genocide during the Bosnian war.
According to Gavazzeni, around 100 affluent tourists participated in these hunts as a leisure activity. He described them as individuals from various Western countries who paid significant amounts for the opportunity to shoot civilians, motivated solely by personal enjoyment rather than political or religious reasons.
The investigative journalist revealed that one of his key sources, a Bosnian intelligence officer, indicated that Italian intelligence agencies possessed information about these shocking events as early as 1993. Several individuals are reportedly willing to testify in court regarding these disturbing activities.
The Bosnian consul in Milan, Dag Dumrukcic, expressed full support for Italy’s investigation, emphasizing the importance of uncovering the truth and addressing this heinous chapter in history. Italy and Bosnia are working together to shed light on these events and seek justice for the victims.