The Story ‘They had sick minds’: A human safari in Sarajevo
Mar 2, 2026
Tom Kington, Italy correspondent for The Times, recounts investigations into 1990s Sarajevo and interviews with an eyewitness. He outlines rumours of foreigners paying to shoot civilians, how tourists allegedly accessed sniper positions, price lists targeting women and children, and the aftermath of violence. The narrative follows investigations now resurfacing in Italy and one witness’s decision to speak after decades.
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Foreign Snipers Seen From The Jewish Cemetery
- Aleksandar Lichinin, a Bosnian-Serb soldier, witnessed foreign visitors—Italians, English and Germans—being led into sniper positions near the Jewish cemetery.
- He recalled they wore expensive leather jackets and were helped by Slavko Aleksic’s militia to get clear shots into Sarajevo below.
Weekend Spikes Suggest Paid Shooting Trips
- Tom Kington reports locals believed the outsiders were paying to participate, turning hunting skill into sadistic spectacle.
- Reports suggest weekends saw a spike in shooting that matched alleged weekend trips and organised transport from Belgrade.
Price List For Targets Allegedly Existed
- Lichinin said foreigners stayed in a compound or top floors of tower blocks and could pay more for privileged shooting positions.
- He claimed a price list existed and that killers could pay extra to target children or pregnant women.