Authorities in several European countries are investigating allegations that foreign nationals participated as snipers targeting Bosnian Muslims during the 1990s Bosnian War. The probe involves multiple suspects reportedly from Italy and Austria, with inquiries coordinated through Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation.
In Italy, prosecutors are examining the actions of at least five men, including a 64-year-old former municipal worker from Ponzone named Lucio Cavanna. Cavanna acknowledged traveling to Bosnia, citing far-right sympathies and animosity toward Muslims as motivations. His former wife reportedly told investigators he suffered from nightmares linked to his alleged wartime activities as a sniper, initially taking short weekend trips that later extended for longer periods. Witnesses, unrelated to each other, told prosecutors that Cavanna had spoken openly about participating in shootings targeting Bosnian Muslims. When questioned, Cavanna denied involvement, claiming the stories were fabrications. A raid at his residence uncovered a silencer designed for a military firearm and an old photograph showing him in uniform with a weapon.
Other suspects under investigation include a businessman from near Milan who allegedly boasted about traveling to Bosnia with a relative to shoot individuals he reportedly identified as Bosnian Muslims. He denied the allegations when questioned. Additionally, a nobleman from Milan and a man from Tuscany are among the individuals under scrutiny. Meanwhile, in Austria, prosecutors in Krems are investigating a 60-year-old man and an acquaintance suspected of multiple trips to Bosnia during the war.
At the end of June, representatives from six countries convened at Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague to exchange information related to these inquiries. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also conducting its own investigation, though progress has been hindered by political complications. Notably, Marijana Cobovic, a Bosnian Serb prosecutor assigned to the case, faces scrutiny that reflects the broader tensions still existing within the country.
The investigation remains unresolved, with uncertainty surrounding the potential for criminal charges or trials. Families affected by sniper killings during the conflict continue to seek answers. Among them are Samir and Stana Cisic, whose daughter, Irina, was killed at the age of one by a sniper bullet shortly after her first birthday in 1993. The couple recall celebrating her birthday with a simple cake before she was fatally wounded while walking with her mother in the city. Despite emergency surgery, Irina did not survive. The bullet that caused her death and the clothes she wore that day are preserved at a children’s museum as poignant reminders of the war’s lasting impact. The Cisics, like many others, remain uncertain about the identities and motives of those responsible for the sniper attacks, whether driven by ideology or other factors.