Thursday marks the 31st anniversary of the death of Italian peacekeeper Gabrielle Moreno Locatelli, who was killed on October 3, 1993, while advocating for an end to the fighting in Sarajevo.

Locatelli was shot by snipers stationed at Vrbanja Bridge, a front-line position held by Serb forces during the Bosnian War. Carrying a peace flag and having notified both sides of his status as a peacekeeper, he was shot in the back while crossing the bridge on his knees. Though he was immediately taken to a French hospital and underwent two surgeries, he did not survive. His final words were a question about the safety of his companions.

Locatelli was laid to rest on October 7, 1993, in Canzo, Italy, with the peace flag draped over his coffin. A quote, “Stronger than death is love,” is inscribed at the entrance to his home.

F.Z./N1

F.Z./N1

F.Z. / N1

A member of the peace organization *Beati Costruttori di Pace* (Blessed are the Peacemakers), Locatelli's commitment to peace continues to inspire.

A commemoration and laying of flowers were attended by Lorenzo Donatelli, Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Anja Margetic, Deputy Mayor of Sarajevo, to honour his memory.