BREAKING: The case of the Sarajevo ‘human safaris’ advances with an uncertain fate in Italy with three investigated | International
In a major development, the following story has emerged from the international scene.
A Haunting Legacy of the Bosnian War
Four months have passed since a disturbing investigation surfaced in Italy, shedding light on a dark chapter of the Bosnian War in the 1990s. The investigation reveals a terrifying suspicion: that several European nationals, including hunters and businessmen, paid to travel to the besieged hills surrounding Sarajevo during the war and became snipers, targeting civilians. These so-called “weekend snipers” allegedly took part in organized excursions that led to the senseless deaths of innocent people.
Ezio Gavazzeni, an investigative journalist, compiled the first report on these allegations and handed it over to the Milan Prosecutor’s Office, which has since opened a formal inquiry. The matter is deeply chilling, but investigators face numerous challenges: three decades have passed since the alleged incidents, and evidence largely rests on hazy testimonies that remain difficult to verify. Nevertheless, the case has made progress, with three individuals currently under investigation.
The Individuals Under Investigation
The individuals under scrutiny include:
- An 80-year-old truck driver from San Vito al Tagliamento, a municipality near the Slovenian border. His house was searched by Carabinieri (Italian police), and he was interrogated last month. However, he maintains his innocence, stating that he visited Bosnia only for work and not to engage in “hunting.”
- A hunting enthusiast from central Italy, and a businessman from Lombardy, both of whom have allegedly boasted about participating in these trips during social gatherings. These claims have been supported by others who were present at the time.
Gavazzeni’s Book: A New Revelation
In a move to further his investigation, Gavazzeni has published a new book titled I Cecchini del Weekend (The Weekend Snipers), which brings to light further details of his findings. Much of the material had already been revealed in earlier reports, but the testimonies included in the book offer a more detailed picture of these events.
The book features hearsay testimonies from individuals who claimed to have heard or learned about these sniper trips. Many of these accounts originate from people who were somehow connected to the Bosnian War, either through work or personal ties.
An Alleged ‘Human Safari’ Operation
A particularly disturbing detail in the book concerns the “human safaris” organized by these European nationals. One of the testimonies comes from a Spanish individual, Toni C., who recalls his father’s wealthy friend being offered the opportunity to participate in these trips, which were marketed as a form of “human hunting.”
“It was a rich person’s thing,” Toni C. writes, reflecting on the nature of the operation.
— *Testimony from Toni C., as cited in I Cecchini del Weekend.
These hunting excursions, often involving highly-wealthy individuals with extreme-right ideologies, are described as organized through networks of people involved in hunting, weapons, and shooting ranges. According to Gavazzeni, these individuals were often drawn to these trips through personal connections.
The Role of Mercenaries and the Parisian Link
A particularly macabre account comes from a former French mercenary, who claims to have been a guide for these sniper groups. This individual, referred to as “The Frenchman,” describes how these groups of war tourists would travel in groups, often with two companions acting as bodyguards. The mercenary’s account paints a chilling picture of the war’s brutality, stating that some participants even lost their lives on these trips.
According to the mercenary, these sniper excursions were organized by a Belgian agency with an office in London and supported by a group based in Milan. Mecenate Street in Milan, near an appliance company warehouse, was the reported starting point for these journeys. From there, they would travel to Trieste and then fly to Belgrade, before journeying by land to the front lines.
The mercenary estimates that 230 Italians participated in these expeditions between 1991 and 1995, along with individuals from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria. He himself reportedly made nine trips, six of which were from Italy.
The Price of Human Life: A Chilling Jargon
This alleged mercenary also revealed the jargon used by the snipers: they referred to themselves as “archers” and their victims as “deer.” The snipers reportedly had a system to count the number of kills, and the payment would be made based on these statistics, with fees always paid in cash.
The most chilling detail comes with the rates for different victims:
- Children were the most expensive targets, with a fee of 30 million lire (roughly 28,000 euros) at the beginning of the war, rising to 90–100 million lire (approximately 78,000 to 86,000 euros) towards the end of the conflict.
- Women, men, and the elderly were priced at lower rates, but still significant sums.
In a deeply disturbing practice, the snipers also allegedly kept shell casings as souvenirs, marking them with different colors depending on the victim’s age and gender.
“Blue or pink for boys or girls, red for men…”
— The Frenchman, former mercenary involved in the sniper operations.
The Legal Path Forward
At the heart of this investigation lies the testimony of Edin Subasic, a former Bosnian intelligence agent, who claims to have learned about these operations after interrogating a prisoner in 1994. Subasic subsequently informed SISMI, Italy’s military intelligence service, which allegedly discovered the route for these “war tourists” and intercepted it in Trieste.
Subasic’s account was later corroborated by Michael Giffoni, Italy’s former ambassador to Kosovo, who served as the number two in the Italian diplomatic mission in Sarajevo during the war.
“Subasic does not invent anything,” Giffoni confirmed.
— Michael Giffoni, former Italian Ambassador to Kosovo.
The hope now is that official documentation from Italy’s intelligence services will surface, providing further evidence of the existence of these horrific sniper expeditions.
A Dark Chapter in European History
As the investigation continues, Gavazzeni’s book and the ongoing legal proceedings offer a sobering look into a chapter of European history that many hoped had been forgotten. The fact that such atrocities were allegedly committed by people from across Europe underscores the disturbing potential for violence amidst global conflict. Whether justice will be served remains uncertain, but the revelations continue to haunt the memory of those who lived through the Bosnian War.
Editor’s Insight:
Understanding these events is crucial for anyone following international affairs closely.
World leaders are expected to respond to these developments in the coming days.
Follow our coverage for real-time updates on this and other major global stories.
Source: This article was originally published in another language by Internacional en EL PAÍS and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.