G. Randjelović February 5th 1994
Tragedy in the Market Place
Mortar Shell in Downtown Sarajevo
Rescue Workers helping the injured
The family of those killed while waiting to buy bread in Sarajevo
At around , they and their loved ones heard a sound coming from the hills that surround the city. While they calmly waited in line to buy various goods, a 120mm mortar shell landed right in the middle of the marketplace, killing 68, and injuring over 140. The scene was horrible. People with their limbs separated from their bodies trudged across the sidewalk, screaming for help. While UN personnel and rescue helicopters did arrive eventually, unfortunately, the damage was already done.
And then the question arises: who did it? While the Muslim-led government blamed the Serbs, and the Serbs accused the government of shelling it’s own citizens to drag international powers into war against them, the perpetrator has not been determined. However, nothing can bring back those killed in the deadly explosion.
Reflection:
The reason I chose to write about this is because, in the Cellist of Sarajevo, one of the main events is a mortar falling into a busy marketplace, and while this might not be that same one (several mortars attacked the marketplace) it is easy to relate it to the one in the book.
I also chose this article to exemplify the horrors of the Siege of Sarajevo, how innocent lives can be lost so quickly, and how terrible war is. It was one of two large mortar bombings that forced NATO into participation in the war. (The other being on August 28, 1995)
References:
Fish, By Jim. "BBC NEWS | Europe | Sarajevo Massacre Remembered." BBC News - Home. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3459965.stm>.
"Siege of Sarajevo: 1992-1996." Then Again. . . Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/easteurope/SarajevoSiege.CP.html>.
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