Some stories strike the heart with a force you never forget. This is one of them. New claims from Europe suggest something so dark, so cruel, that many people feel shaken all over again.

Investigators in Italy say they are reviewing allegations that wealthy travelers once paid enormous sums—nearly $90,000—to take part in what witnesses compared to a “human safari” during the Bosnian War. The events allegedly took place in Sarajevo in the 1990s, when the city endured a deadly four-year siege.

Italian journalist Ezio Gavazzeni, known for reporting on terrorism and organized crime, says he uncovered evidence pointing to foreign “sniper tourists” who were taken to Serb-controlled hills to shoot at civilians. He described it as a shocking “manhunt” carried out by people with money, power, and no moral purpose.

“There were no political motives,” he said. “They were rich people who went for personal satisfaction.”
That one sentence changed the tone of the investigation.

Gavazzeni’s report includes testimony from a Bosnian military intelligence officer who claimed soldiers first learned about these alleged visits in 1993. They believed travelers were flown through northern Italy before being escorted to vantage points above the city.

The siege of Sarajevo claimed more than 11,000 lives. Families still carry that pain. For many, the idea that outsiders may have paid to deepen that suffering feels almost unbearable.

Italian counter-terrorism prosecutors are now reviewing documents, interviews, and a detailed 17-page report. Officials in Milan say they want the truth—finally and fully. The Bosnian Consulate in Milan has also offered information to help investigators.

For survivors, this moment feels heavy. Yet there is hope that shining light on old wounds might help close this painful chapter with dignity, justice, and long-overdue truth.