Italy probes Sarajevo sniper safaris': What were they, who was involved?

"Italy's public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into claims that Italians travelled on weekend sniper safaris to Sarajevo to shoot at citizens during the Bosnian-Serb army's siege on the city that killed more than 11,000 people between 1992 and 1996. The alleged safaris a grotesque reference to expeditions to hunt or observe wild animals took place as the Bosnian-Serb force besieged the city in what became the longest siege on a city in modern European history."

"Milan's investigation, headed by prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis, was launched after journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni, in collaboration with lawyers Nicola Brigida and former judge Guido Salvini, filed a legal complaint of murder aggravated by cruelty and despicable motives against alleged groups of Italians travelling to Sarajevo to join the trips. According to Italian media, investigators hope to track down people who participated in the alleged safaris, in addition to five men who have already been identified in Gacazzeni's suit."

"Gavazzeni, who has turned all his evidence over to prosecutors, told the Italian news outlet La Repubblica on Tuesday that his suit exposes a part of society that hides its truth under the carpet. Because we're talking about wealthy people with reputations, entrepreneurs, who during the siege of Sarajevo paid to be able to kill defenceless civilians, he added. Here's what we know about the alleged sniper safaris."

Italian prosecutors opened an investigation into claims that Italians travelled from Italy to Bosnia on weekend "sniper safaris" to shoot civilians in Sarajevo during the Bosnian-Serb siege (1992–1996) that killed over 11,000 people. A legal complaint accused groups of Italians of murder aggravated by cruelty and despicable motives; the complaint was filed by Ezio Gavazzeni with lawyers Nicola Brigida and former judge Guido Salvini. Investigators hope to identify participants beyond five men already named. Gavazzeni turned his evidence over to prosecutors and characterized alleged participants as wealthy entrepreneurs who paid to kill defenceless civilians. Gatherings reportedly began in Trieste for weekend hunting trips.

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