Thread by @SniperAlleyPhot

On the 2nd of May, JNA (Yugoslav People’s Army) from #Serbia supported by local #Serbian militants tried to deal the final blow to the #Bosnian defenders, occupy Sarajevo and force legal government to surrender.

This is how some events unfolded.

Thread.

#SarajevoUnderSiege

2 MAY 1992
Shelling of #Sarajevo began at 3 a.m., and lasted until 5 a.m. It was the most intense shelling seen until then.
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Photo©️Hidajet Delic

2 MAY 1992
Mortar and artillery attacks from the surrounding hills start again later in the morning. Government buildings, residential areas, homes, companies and shops were reported ablaze.
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Photo©️Hidajet Delic

2 MAY 1992
All of the windows in the old heart of #Sarajevo, in Bascarsija, were broken.
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Photo©️Hidajet Delic

2 MAY 1992
The artillery barrage is used to prepare the ground for an attack that will follow and to scare the population into compliance and surrender.
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2 MAY 1992
The Sarajevo public transportation network was hit at its main locations and throughout the city.
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Photo©️Danilo Krstanovic

2 May 1992
They start their strongest attack on #Sarajevo so far, aiming to occupy the Presidency building, split the city in two and force the legal government to surrender.
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2 May 1992
Along with probing attacks, special forces from #Serbia infiltrate a building adjacent to the Bosnian Presidency building. They are from Nis - Serbia, belonging to the most elite parachute regiment of JNA.
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2 MAY 1992
Entire city is under severe shelling and sniper fire. Olympic centre ‘Skenderija’, adjacent to the Presidency building is being shelled.
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Photo©️Danilo Krstanovic

2 MAY 1992
A major artillery attack begins at 1:00 p.m. JNA start armor attack toward the buildings of the Presidency and the Assembly of Sarajevo.
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2 MAY 1992
BiH President Alija Izetbegovic is kidnapped by JNA forces from #Serbia and taken to the Lukavica barracks outside of the city. He was kidnapped at the Sarajevo airport while returning from the EU-mediated peace talks in Lisbon.
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2 MAY 1992
The JNA's regional commander, General Milutin Kukanjac from #Serbia, is live on Bosnian TV, negotiating with Bosnian Presidency members and the information of the kidnapping reaches the nation and the world.
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2 MAY 1992
Bosnian forces successfully repel attacks outside of the Presidency building. In the adjacent area, infiltrated JNA elite forces from #Serbia are defeated and take hostages in a nearby skyscraper.
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Photo©️Jordi Pujol Puente

3 MAY 1992
Fighting between Serbian forces and Bosnian defenders continues into early Sunday. Upon seeing they main armored prong annihilated, some of them scatter back to JNA barracks.
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Photo©️David Brauchli

3 MAY 1992
The Gazi Husref Begova Mosque, the oldest in the Balkans, built in 1531, was hit twice by cannon fire and a chunk was blown out of the base of its minaret.
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Photo©️Mario Boccia

3 MAY 1992
Main Post Office erupts in flames. Infiltrated forces activate explosives they had planted there and majority of #Sarajevo phone connection with the world is cut off.
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Photo©️Jordi Pujol Puente

3 MAY 1992
At least 10 people were known to have been killed in Sarajevo. Residents are in shock. They can’t believe their neighbours and friends are doing this to them.
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3 MAY 1992
Sniper fire from #Serbian positions, JNA barracks and local Serbian extremists prevent ambulances from reaching large numbers of dead and wounded in the city.
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3 MAY 1992
Buildings all along Marsal Tito Street have huge holes blown into them.
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Photo ©️Jordi Pujol Puente

3 MAY 1992
Debris is scattered but defenders are defiant and in high spirits after beating the most elite forces from Serbia the day before.
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Photo©️David Brauchli

3 MAY 1992
Many JNA soldiers are killed and wounded, most of them are captured and among them are the Special Forces who had taken hostages the day before, led by Dragan Stepanovic Rambo and Milan Šuput from #Serbia.
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Photo©️Jordi Pujol Puente

With scarce means and without military equipment, citizens managed to defend the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Photo©️Jordi Pujol Puente

What followed was more than three years of ‘Siege’. Serbs fired down from the hills onto the city's population, killing innocent civilians as well as the fighters defending the Bosnian capital.
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Photo©️Andree Kaiser

The lines of white gravestones in many of Sarajevo's open spaces tell that story today.
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Photo©️Mirza Ajanovic

The 2nd and 3rd of May 1992 represent the turning point in the defense of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 2nd of May is celebrated as day of ‘Sarajevo Canton’.

#SarajevoIsNotUnderSiege

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