British Tourists Accused of Joining 'Human Safari' During Sarajevo Siege
Disturbing new allegations have emerged claiming that wealthy British citizens travelled to Sarajevo during the 1990s siege to participate in what has been described as a 'human safari'. According to journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, these individuals paid substantial sums to shoot at civilians, including children, from the hills surrounding the Bosnian capital.
The Chilling Details of 'Murder Tourism'
Italian prosecutors in Milan have opened a formal investigation into similar allegations involving Italian tourists, who allegedly paid approximately £70,000 to join the deadly excursions. Gavazzeni, who collected witness statements about these activities, has now confirmed that British citizens were among participants from several Western nations.
The journalist revealed to El Mundo that wealthy clients travelled from the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, the US and Canada. These individuals reportedly paid specifically to kill children, adults and elderly people - treating human lives as sporting targets while hiding in the hills surrounding Sarajevo.
'I was surprised when the rumours circulated about what was happening in Sarajevo without anyone investigating it further,' Gavazzeni stated. He expressed particular shock that 'no one has been interested' in investigating these serious allegations over the past three decades.
Wealthy Individuals Killing 'For Fun'
According to court filings, the Italian suspects would meet in Trieste before travelling to Belgrade, where Bosnian-Serb soldiers would accompany them to sniper positions overlooking Sarajevo. Most disturbingly, witnesses claim participants paid an additional fee specifically to target children using sniper rifles.
Gavazzeni emphasised that 'there were no political or religious motivations' behind these actions. 'They were rich people who went there for fun and personal satisfaction,' he explained. 'We are talking about people who love guns who perhaps go to shooting ranges or on safari in Africa.'
The journalist described the phenomenon as 'a traffic of war tourists who went there to shoot people', adding that he calls it 'an indifference towards evil'.
Historical Context and Ongoing Investigations
The siege of Sarajevo, which lasted from 1992 to 1995, represents the longest military blockade in modern history. Official figures confirm that 13,952 people were killed during the siege, including 5,434 civilians. The broader Bosnian War claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced approximately 2 million people from their homes.
Former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic and military commander Stanislav Galic were both convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity at The Hague for their roles in the siege. Both received life sentences, with Karadzic currently serving his sentence in the UK.
Despite the gravity of these new allegations, Gavazzeni noted that no Western television network purchased broadcasting rights for Miran Zupani's 2022 documentary 'Sarajevo Safari', which explores these same claims.
Italian prosecutors have not yet named any specific suspects in their investigation but are expected to do so soon. Gavazzeni remains hopeful that his efforts will trigger a 'domino effect' in other Western countries, questioning why no nation has previously investigated these allegations against what he describes as 'powerful, wealthy, and socially influential people'.
