Sniper fire was a constant threat to residents during the siege of Sarajevo. picture-alliance/ dpa
During the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, we began to hear disturbing reports about “tourist snipers” from Europe. These were not a member of a military or militia group, but rather civilians, paying to visit an active war zone, just to enjoy the thrill of killing an innocent person.
These “weekend snipers” came from European cities, such as Milan, and chose to shoot the most vulnerable members of society: children, women, and the elderly. They paid upwards of 100,000 euros to take part in what can only be described as human hunting by shooting civilians from extreme distances just for sport. The main targets were children mainly due to their size, leading to the thought that if you could kill a child, you were skilled. Another factor here was that children were the most expensive to kill, and elders were considered free kills.
These killings were also part of a terrible surge of violence that engulfed the city during the Bosnian War. While local forces were engaged in active fighting, these “tourists” (often referred to as “mercenaries”, although not true members of military forces) would fly in from around the world to take part in this grotesque game of murdering civilians. They flew into Belgrade, Serbia then transported into Sarajevo, all to take part in their “fun”.
Years later, inquiries are still ongoing to formally identify and charge those responsible. The survivors of Sarajevo, along with the families of those impacted, continue searching for justice. These acts of heinous cruelty show nothing but sadistic pleasure. A black mark in the story of a war marked with brutality.
References:
https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/milan-public-prosecutor-investigates-rich-sarajevo-snipers-AH9Kh6fD
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