Protests Erupt in Bologna After Man Dies Under Police Restraint

Protests erupted in the Italian city of Bologna following the death of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan-born entrepreneur who died under police restraint. According to multiple reports, officers responded to calls about a man behaving erratically and damaging vehicles on Sunday afternoon.

A video shared widely on Italian media shows Fakir repeatedly calling out for help as two officers restrained him face down on the ground. The footage captures him saying 'aiuto, aiuto, basta' (Help, help, that’s enough) before becoming unresponsive. Ambulance workers are seen standing by during the incident.

Prosecutors in Bologna have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Fakir's death and requested bodycam footage from the officers involved. The autopsy results are pending as investigators examine whether the restraint contributed to his death or if other factors, such as a possible medical emergency or drug intoxication, played a role.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and protests in Bologna. Demonstrators chanted anti-police slogans and adopted gestures associated with the Black Lives Matter movement. Firecrackers were thrown near police buildings, leading to police reactions with teargas and water cannons. According to CBS News, Fakir's sister Khadija expressed her grief and demanded justice, stating that her brother was killed in cold blood.

Political reactions have been divided. Opposition parties and human rights campaigners have called for a full and transparent investigation into the incident. Francesco Boccia of the centre-left Democratic party criticized the government's policies, while Ilaria Cucchi, a senator whose brother died in custody in 2009, condemned the solidarity expressed towards the police after such an inhumane act.

On the other hand, members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government defended the officers' actions. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed full confidence in the ongoing investigation to establish the facts. Tommaso Foti, the European affairs minister, described the chants against the police as disgraceful.

Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that Italian authorities fully clarify the details of Fakir's death and determine responsibility. The Moroccan embassy in Italy called for a rigorous, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also called for the truth to be pursued without prejudice or leniency.

Clashes between protesters and police forces resulted in 54 officers injured, according to Italian police. Italian news channel Sky TG24 reported that 11 protesters were also injured. Bologna prosecutors have placed six people under preliminary investigation, including two police officers and four ambulance crew members. The investigation is examining possible manslaughter charges while awaiting the results of medical examinations.