SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Families in Sarajevo who lost loved ones to sniper fire during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War have renewed their call for justice.

For years, survivors demanded an investigation into the alleged involvement of wealthy Italians assisting Serb forces in the mass killings, which was highlighted in international media in 1995 under headlines such as "Sniper Safari in Sarajevo," but no formal action was taken until the Milan Prosecutor's Office opened a case earlier this month. For many families, the move has rekindled long-buried hope.

Prosecutors in Milan have launched an investigation into Italians who allegedly paid members of the Bosnian Serb army for trips to Sarajevo in order to kill people during the nearly four-year siege of the city from 1992 to 1995, refocusing attention on one of the war's darkest chapters, which was marked by relentless shelling and systematic sniper attacks.

More than 11,500 civilians, including over 1,600 children, were killed between 1992 and 1995 as residents risked death with every trip across a street or even a doorway.

Families demand accountability

Fatima Popovac, whose six-year-old son Adnan was killed by sniper fire, said she spent decades searching for answers. “I cannot understand how someone could kill a child for amusement,” she told Anadolu.

She insists that both the shooters and those who enabled them must be held accountable. “What harm could a six-year-old child possibly have done to anyone?” she said.

Popovac said she still struggles to comprehend the mindset behind the killing. “I cannot even imagine that those who carried these out could be in human form. I wish I could see that monster—what they look like, what they resemble. Do they carry no humanity at all?” she said.

She described rebuilding her life despite her grief and said she hopes truth and accountability will finally emerge. “I cannot wish harm on anyone, even on the person who killed my child,” she said. “God willing, my son will be waiting for me in paradise.”

The calls for justice are echoed by Dzemil Hodzic, founder of the “Sniper Alley” project documenting wartime crimes. His 16-year-old brother, Amel, was killed during the siege. Hodzic argues that those involved should no longer be referred to as “tourists,” saying the proper terms are “killers” and “terrorists.”

He also claims the operations involved state-backed networks, pointing to alleged support from Serbian security structures at the time. “As long as I live, I will fight for the truth,” he said. “And I won’t stop. They won’t sleep comfortably.”

Newly circulated footage in 2021 showing snipers targeting civilians further reignited painful memories for Sarajevo residents, underscoring the enduring trauma of the siege.

For survivors, the Milan probe represents the first significant step in decades toward uncovering the full scope of the alleged sniper-for-hire activities.