Sarajevo siege survivors hope for justice as Italy probes alleged 'sniper tourism'

A Bosnian worker looks out at Sarajevo through a hole in a war-damaged building that once marked the front line during the 1992?95 Bosnian War, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, November 13, 2025. REUTERS/Amel Emric

SARAJEVO (Reuters) -The launch of an investigation in Italy into allegations that foreigners paid to shoot at civilians during the siege of Sarajevo three decades ago has raised survivors' hopes that people will be brought to justice.

About 11,000 civilians were killed by shelling and sniper fire from Bosnian Serb army positions on hills around the besieged city during the 1992-95 war that followed Bosnia's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia.