Milan prosecutors have placed an elderly Italian man under investigation over allegations that foreigners paid to shoot at civilians during the 1990s siege of Sarajevo, sources with direct knowledge of the case said on Wednesday.
The man is the first individual to be formally identified in the investigation, which began last year. The sources said he is an 80-year-old former truck driver who lives near the northern Italian town of Pordenone.
Prosecutors are examining claims that foreign nationals were paid to take part in shootings of civilians during the siege of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the war that followed the country’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia.
The suspect, who was not named, faces several counts of premeditated murder, with charges aggravated by base motives, the sources said. It is not yet clear whether he is accused of directly carrying out killings or of assisting with transport and logistics for those involved.
He remains at liberty and has been summoned to appear before prosecutors for questioning on 9 February, according to the sources.
Around 11,000 civilians were killed by shelling and sniper fire from Bosnian Serb army positions in the hills surrounding Sarajevo during the 1992–1995 conflict.
The Milan inquiry was opened after Italian journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni filed a legal complaint alleging that Italians and other foreigners paid Bosnian Serb forces to allow them to take part in shooting excursions, a practice described by some as "sniper tourism".
Gavazzeni said he began investigating the allegations after watching the 2022 documentary Sarajevo Safari by Slovenian director Miran Zupanic.
According to Gavazzeni, wealthy foreigners paid large sums of money to participate. He said Italians would meet in the city of Trieste before travelling to Belgrade, where Bosnian Serb soldiers escorted them to positions overlooking Sarajevo.
The launch of the Italian investigation in November 2025 raised hopes among survivors of the siege that those responsible for such crimes could finally be brought to justice.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturd...
Azerbaijan has made a notable appearance at one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, with a large delegation participating in the CHIO...
The inaugural Enhanced Games are set to take place in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern spor...
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its risk assessment for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to “very high”...
More than 20 people are trapped under the rubble of a building under construction in the Philippines that collapsed on Sunday, officials said, as resc...
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
ITA Airways is preparing to raise ticket prices by between 5% and 10% this year as soaring fuel costs linked to the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the U.S. continue to pressure airlines worldwide.
The 61st Venice Biennale has opened under grey skies and political tension, with disputes over Russia and Israel, resignations on the jury, and protests marking the start of one of the art world’s most high-profile events.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The inaugural Enhanced Games are set to take place in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 23rd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
China has revised the number of dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, from 90 to 82, in what is the country's deadliest mining accident in 17 years.
Ukraine’s military denied that it struck a student dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region on Friday (22 May).
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday, though the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.
Azerbaijan has made a notable appearance at one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, with a large delegation participating in the CHIO Aachen tournament in Germany, according to the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its risk assessment for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to “very high”, as infections spread across eastern provinces and into neighbouring Uganda amid growing security and humanitarian concerns.
The inaugural Enhanced Games are set to take place in Las Vegas on Sunday (24 May), launching one of the most controversial experiments in modern sport, in which athletes openly compete using performance-enhancing drugs banned under traditional anti-doping rules.
More than 20 people are trapped under the rubble of a building under construction in the Philippines that collapsed on Sunday, officials said, as rescue efforts continue.
An explosion on a railway track in Pakistan's Quetta killed at least 24 people, news outlet Al Arabiya reported on Sunday, citing officials.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment