Italian prosecutors have summoned an individual for questioning as part of an investigation into allegations that several Italian citizens travelled to Bosnia during the 1992–95 conflict to join Serb sniper units and shoot at civilians for “entertainment,” according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The probe originates from a criminal complaint filed in February 2025 by Italian journalist and author Ezio Gavazzeni, who submitted documentation and evidence connected to the siege of Sarajevo.
The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the investigation in November 2025, concentrating on individuals referred to as “weekend snipers,” who are accused of travelling from Italy and other countries to participate in attacks during the war.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported, citing judicial sources, that an 80-year-old former truck driver residing in the northeastern city of Pordenone has been summoned for questioning.
Prosecutors are expected to question him on Feb. 9.
According to prosecutors, between 1992 and 1995 the man and other unidentified individuals allegedly fired sniper rifles from the hills surrounding Sarajevo, killing unarmed civilians — including women, children and elderly people — as part of a coordinated criminal plan.
Italian media have also reported claims that the suspect later bragged about taking part in “human hunts” in Sarajevo during the siege.
Sarajevo came under attack on April 6, 1992, and remained under siege for more than three years. During that time, 11,541 civilians were killed, including 1,601 children, while the city’s infrastructure and numerous historic and cultural landmarks suffered extensive damage.
