On 20 July, police in the working‑class neighbourhood of Pilastro in Bologna were called after a neighbour reported Abderrahim Fakir behaving erratically and kicking garage doors. Failing to calm the situation, officers resorted to pepper spray and then forced Fakir onto their knees, restraining him with handcuffs and mischief. Video footage shows the man lying face‑down while the officers piled on, an image that quickly went viral and intensified scrutiny over police conduct.
Fakir later died in the presence of emergency workers, sparking grief from his sister Khadija and his niece Yossra. The death prompted a massive protest on Monday night where several thousand people marched demanding justice and an investigation, and an earlier smaller, more hostile group clashed with police, setting two cars ablaze and sustaining injuries to 64 officers.
Bologna’s mayor Matteo Lepore called the incident "shocking," while calling for a demonstration that attracted both peaceful participants and those who turned violent. The Police Union’s Secretary‑General Domenico Pianese defended the officers’ actions, stating that the use of force was justified and that body‑camera footage had been handed to prosecutors.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labelled the protests "unacceptable" and urged a comprehensive investigation into Fakir’s death, insisting that memorials for victims should not devolve into a session of violence. The European Parliament’s Greens, representing a protest‑witnessed in Italy for lethal police custody earlier that year, echoed this sentiment and called for more accountability.
Prosecutors in Bologna have opened an investigation into manslaughter for both the officers who restrained Fakir and the medical workers present at the scene. Italian media also noted similar cases, such as Stefano Cucchi’s 2009 death, underscoring police accountability concerns across the nation.
These events show a city in turmoil, where a single incident has reopened old wounds over police interventions and civil rights, and set a precedent for public oversight and reforms in Italy’s law‑enforcement practices.
