Death After Arrest Attempt Sparks Bologna Protests

Italian police clashed with demonstrators in Bologna on Monday at a protest over the death of a man following an attempted arrest. Footage of the incident, filmed by a resident and widely shared online, prompted hundreds of people to take to the streets.

Abderrahim Fakir, a Moroccan-born businessman, died on Sunday after police were dispatched following reports of a man behaving aggressively and damaging a vehicle. Italian media reported that officers summoned emergency services and initially tried to calm Fakir. After he reacted aggressively, they used pepper spray and restrained him while attempting to handcuff him.

The video showed Fakir lying face down while two officers restrained him. He could be heard repeatedly calling for help and struggling for breath before his movements gradually stopped.

According to the ANSA news agency, some demonstrators threw a firecracker near police buildings, prompting officers to use tear gas and water cannons. Another group sat down in a square holding a photograph of Fakir in a gesture of nonviolent protest.

The incident drew responses from across the political spectrum, with opposition politicians demanding accountability and the governing coalition defending the officers involved. Prosecutors have opened an investigation, while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed full confidence that the inquiry would establish the facts. Bologna police will provide investigators with footage from the officers’ body cameras.

(Reuters, bak)