The passing of a Moroccan individual while in police custody has ignited protests, some of which have turned violent, in the northern city of Bologna, following the circulation of a video depicting officers aggressively restraining the man.
Prosecutors in Italy informed USdaily that an investigation is underway regarding two police officers and four emergency responders for the involuntary manslaughter of the 42-year-old man, who passed away after being handcuffed and restrained.
His family has identified the deceased as Abderrahim Fakir, asserting that he was a legal resident.
In the footage of his apprehension, Fakir can be heard calling out for assistance while being held down by at least two officers. This incident has drawn parallels to the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.
An autopsy has been requested to ascertain the cause of Fakir’s passing, as stated by the Coroner’s office.
Authorities have withheld details from USdaily regarding the incident due to the ongoing investigation.
However, they informed USdaily affiliate RAI that officers were dispatched on Sunday following emergency calls from neighbors about a man who was causing a disturbance, reportedly screaming and kicking at garage doors.
They mentioned that officers requested an ambulance, but the video reveals that medical staff were forced to wait for police clearance before approaching Fakir. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 10 a.m. local time, according to the Bologna mayor’s office.
The video does not clarify what occurred prior in the encounter or how police first engaged with Fakir.
On Sunday and Monday, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Bologna. Some individuals were observed setting cars on fire, smashing store windows, and confronting riot police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister GeorgiaMeloni urged for calm, indicating that some protestors exploited Fakir’s death to justify their violent actions.
“In light of Abderrahim Fakir’s death, it is vital to thoroughly ascertain any culpabilities. The truth must be pursued diligently, without bias or concessions,” she stated on social media.
“However, no justification exists for violence against law enforcement. Those who opted to utilize this incident as an excuse to wreak havoc in the city, assault officers, and instigate violence, thereby jeopardizing the safety of innocent citizens, were not in pursuit of truth; they were in pursuit of conflict,” she added.
Matteo Lepore, the center-left mayor of Bologna, who had called for a gathering to seek justice for Fakir, addressed the crowd by stating that Italy did not wish for “ICE agents and victims like George Floyd.” Yet, he condemned the violence as “blind, unjustified, and senseless.”
