Police clash with protesters in Bologna after man dies during arrest attempt
Video of the restraint sparked protests and an autopsy as prosecutors investigate whether police force caused the 42-year-old’s death.
- Abderrahim Fakir, a Moroccan-born entrepreneur, died on Sunday while Police restrained him during an arrest in the Pilastro neighborhood of Bologna, according to Italian media reports.
- Police arrived in temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius after reports of an aggressive man damaging a vehicle; officers attempted to calm Fakir before using pepper spray and physical restraint.
- Footage shows Fakir struggling while officers held him face down, prompting hundreds to protest and adopt gestures associated with the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement while chanting anti-Police slogans.
- Khadija, Fakir's sister, told reporters, "They killed my brother in cold blood, I want justice," while the Lega defended officers for "doing their duty" at the request of "exasperated citizens."
- Bologna prosecutors are investigating the death as Police pledge to provide bodycam footage to investigators, while a new protest backed by Mayor Matteo Lepore and the Cgil is scheduled in the city center.
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A video was made of the incident, which many are comparing to the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
En opsigtsvækkende video af en mand, der under en anholdelse mistede livet, har katt Italien ind i et politisk drama og sat il til Bolognas Gader.
The death of a man on Sunday during a police arrest caused a wave of anger in the city of Bologna. Events instrumentalised by the far right, which sees it as a new opportunity to tighten the tone before the elections of 2027.
The death of 42-year-old Abderrahim Fakir, of Moroccan origin, during a police intervention in Bologna, Italy, has sparked nationwide debate. Protests erupted after footage surfaced showing Fakir lying face down on the ground and saying, "I can't breathe," while prosecutors launched a wide-ranging investigation into the incident.
This article was originally published on Cedarnews.net. For more news and exclusive reports, visit our website. Protests have spread across Italy following the death of Moroccan national Abdelrahim Fakir during his arrest by Italian police. Thousands of protesters of various nationalities have taken to the streets in several Italian cities, demanding justice for the Moroccan citizen and accountability for those responsible for his death. The pro…
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