Dozens of police officers were injured during violent protests in the Italian city of Bologna following the death of a Moroccan-born man while being restrained by police.
Thousands of people took to the streets on Monday evening, demanding “Justice for Abderrahim Fakir” after the 39-year-old died during an encounter with law enforcement in the northern Italian city.
A smaller group of protesters later broke away from the main demonstration and clashed with police overnight. According to prosecutors, 64 police officers were injured during the unrest.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the circumstances surrounding Fakir’s death must be thoroughly investigated but stressed that “nothing can justify violence against law enforcement officers.”
Police were called on Sunday morning after a resident reported that Fakir was behaving erratically and kicking garage doors in Bologna’s working-class Pilastro district. Officers initially attempted to calm the situation before using pepper spray.
Video footage circulating in Italian media shows two police officers restraining Fakir face down on the ground while he repeatedly shouts for them to stop. A third individual, who is not a police officer, is seen holding his legs as emergency medical personnel wait nearby.
Approximately two minutes into the video, Fakir appears to stop resisting. Officers then handcuff and restrain his ankles. One officer later notices that Fakir is no longer moving and slaps him twice on the face. By the time paramedics approach, he appears to be unconscious.
Prosecutors in Bologna have opened a manslaughter investigation involving the police officers and emergency medical personnel who were present during the incident. Authorities are seeking to determine whether the restraint methods or the emergency response contributed to Fakir’s death.
The case has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed debate in Italy over police conduct, the use of force during arrests and accountability in law enforcement.
