Italian prosecutors investigate alleged civilian killings by suspected Sarajevo sniper

Thursday 05 February 2026 - 07:20

By: Sahili Aya

Italian prosecutors investigate alleged civilian killings by suspected Sarajevo sniper

Italian judicial authorities have opened an investigation into allegations that an Italian national took part in sniper attacks against civilians during the siege of Sarajevo in the early 1990s, according to local media reports.

Prosecutors in Milan have summoned an 80-year-old man for questioning as part of a broader inquiry into claims that several foreign nationals traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992–1995 war to join Serb sniper units. These individuals were allegedly motivated by thrill-seeking rather than military objectives.

The case originated from a criminal complaint filed in early 2025 by Italian journalist and author Ezio Gavazzeni, who provided documentation and testimony related to the siege of the Bosnian capital. Following a preliminary review, prosecutors formally launched the investigation in late 2025.

Judicial sources cited by Italian media indicate that the suspect, a retired truck driver living in northeastern Italy, is accused of participating in sniper fire from positions overlooking Sarajevo. Prosecutors allege that unarmed civilians were deliberately targeted during the attacks.

The siege of Sarajevo began in April 1992 and lasted more than three years, becoming one of the longest sieges in modern European history. Thousands of civilians lost their lives during the conflict, and the city suffered extensive destruction.

The investigation remains ongoing, and Italian authorities have emphasized that the questioning does not constitute a conviction. Prosecutors are continuing to examine evidence to determine individual responsibility for alleged war crimes.