LESKOVAC — 1999 · Major Tragedy
The Grdelica Train Bombing
At about 11:40 am on 12 April 1999, during NATO's air campaign against Yugoslavia, two missiles fired by a US Air Force F-15E struck passenger train No. 393, travelling from Belgrade to Ristovac, as it crossed the South Morava bridge in the Grdelica gorge. The death toll was never established: Human Rights Watch reported at least 20 killed or missing, while Serbian officials gave higher figures. NATO said the bridge was the target and the train had been hit accidentally; the cockpit video it released was later found to have been sped up. An ICTY review committee recommended against prosecution. A memorial to the victims stands at the site.
- Date
- 1999
- Place
- Grdelica Gorge, Serbia, Leskovac, RS
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 42.8930, 22.0640 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 12 April 1999, 11:40 amTwo missiles hit the passenger train on the Grdelica bridge.
- April 1999NATO said the train was struck by accident.
- 2000The video was found to be sped up; an ICTY committee advised no prosecution.
- Every 12 AprilA commemoration is held at the memorial on the site.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Grdelica train bombing en.wikipedia.org ↗
- ICTY — Final Report to the Prosecutor by the Committee Established to Review the NATO Bombing Campaign icty.org ↗
- Serbian Ministry of Defence — Twenty Years of Rocketing the Train in Grdelica mod.gov.rs ↗
- Wikipedia
- ICTY
- Serbian Ministry of Defence
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.