In a harrowing incident that unfolded in the northern Italian city of Bologna, a man died after police officers restrained him on the ground during an attempted arrest. This event, vividly captured on video, has incited widespread protests and prompted a thorough investigation by prosecutors.
The man, identified as Abderrahim Fakir, was a Moroccan-born businessman operating a modest removals and cleaning service. His tragic demise occurred on Sunday after authorities responded to reports of a man exhibiting aggressive behavior and damaging a car, a situation highlighted by Italian news outlets.
Significant public attention was drawn to the incident when footage filmed by a local witness circulated widely across social media platforms. This video mobilized hundreds to take to the streets in protest, igniting fervent demands for accountability from opposition politicians while the governing coalition stood by the actions of the officers.
As reported by the regional newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, protesters voiced their anger through chants condemning police actions, many taking a knee with raised fists. This powerful gesture draws inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement, notably reminiscent of the global outcry following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in 2020.
The distressing footage depicted Fakir in his final moments, face down as two officers restrained him. His desperate cries for help echoed as he battled to breathe, eventually trailing off into haunting silence as his struggle ceased.
Bologna prosecutors and Italy’s Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bologna police said they would give bodycam footage from the officers who intervened to the investigators.
According to media reports, officers called emergency services after arriving in the northeastern neighbourhood of Pilastro shortly after noon, when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Police tried to calm Fakir before using pepper spray and holding him down while trying to handcuff him after he reacted aggressively, according to media reports.
“They killed my brother in cold blood, I want justice,” Fakir’s sister Khadija told reporters as hundreds of people in Pilastro took to the streets on Sunday, with some demonstrators chanting slogans against the police.
Another protest was due to take place in central Bologna on Monday, backed by center-left Mayor Matteo Lepore, the Cgil trade union and other left-leaning organisations.
The right-wing League, part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, called for rigorous investigations but said police officers were “doing their duty” as they intervened “at the request of exasperated citizens”.