Sarajevo marks 100th anniv. of beginning World of War I

On June 28th 1914, the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo. They were killed by the Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip. The incident triggered a series of events that ultimately led to the outbreak of the First World War.
One-hundred years on since the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Sarajevo has marked the event. This year’s anniversary was marked by exhibitions, conferences and concerts. This included a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra at the Sarajevo City Hall, where Archduke Ferdinand attended a reception shortly before he was assassinated. Organizers insist that the ceremonies were not only a reminder of the First World War, but also an attempt to send a message of peace, solidarity, understanding and dialogue. On this spot in 1914, Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination sparked a global war which resulted in millions of deaths. A century later, Sarajevo, a European city where it all began, is now sending a message of peace to the whole world.