Belgian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the possible involvement of Belgian nationals in so-called “sniper safaris” during the Bosnian War in the 1990s, local media reported Thursday, Anadolu reports.

The federal prosecutor’s investigation follows an investigation launched by prosecutors in Milan, Italy, in November last year into allegations that foreign nationals had traveled to besieged Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and had paid large sums of money to shoot civilians during the conflict.

The claims came after research by Italian journalist and author Ezio Gavazzeni, whose investigation claims that participants from several countries, including Belgium, France, Germany and Italy, may have participated in these activities.

According to Gavazzeni’s findings, individuals allegedly paid up to 100,000 euros or more to participate in the shooting of civilians in Sarajevo.

Prosecutors said they have opened an investigation based on information reported in the media, but declined to provide more details, Belgian Flemish-language broadcaster VRT reported on Wednesday.

Separately, Austrian prosecutors earlier this week launched an investigation into the possible involvement of two Austrian suspects.

Sarajevo was attacked on April 6, 1992 and remained under siege for more than three years. During this period, 11,541 civilians were killed, including 1,601 children. The infrastructure of the city and many historical and cultural objects were severely damaged.

Source: prizrenpost