Sarajevans gathered at the downtown Suada Dilberovic and Olga Sucic Bridge on Thursday to pay their respects to Italian peace activist Gabriele Moreno Locatelli, who was gunned down on October 3, 1993, while on a mission to deliver mail and food to civilians in the besieged city.

A sniper shot Locatelli as he was crossing the bridge while carrying a white flag. As a member of the ‘Beati i Costruttori di Pace’ (Blessed are the Peacemakers) Catholic aid group, Locatelli wanted to spread a message of peace to all of Europe.

He came to the besieged city to help the UN humanitarian mission.

“He was convinced that Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to Europe and the EU, and that Bosnia’s values are the values of Europe. He felt the obligation to get directly engaged in Bosnia. I think his example is important for the people and politicians in Bosnia and the international community,” Italian Ambassador Nicola Minasi said at the gathreing.

On April 21, 1994, a street in Sarajevo’s centre was named after the Italian activist following a petition, initiated by citizens.

Italy launched an investigation into the killing of Locatelli in 1993.