Arrest of a Suspect in Sarajevo, also erroneously identified as The Arrest of Gavrilo Princip, is a historically significant photograph that captured the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914. Originally believed to depict the apprehension of the assassin, Gavrilo Princip, the image gained widespread attention after appearing on the front cover of the Austrian weekly newspaper Wiener Bilder on 5 July 1914. This portrayal played a crucial role in stirring patriotic sentiments that unified allied nations at the outset of World War I.
Despite its initial interpretation, modern scholars widely agree that the photograph does not show the arrest of Princip but rather the arrest of Ferdinand Behr, an innocent bystander unrelated to the assassination. This revelation challenges the historical accuracy of the image, yet it endures as a symbol of the 20th century, representing the catalyst that triggered the First World War.[1] The photograph's lasting impact on public perception and its place in the historical narrative showcase the complex connection between imagery and historical interpretation.