Bologna protests after Moroccan man's death in custody

A 42-year-old man died following a police encounter in Bologna, Italy, on July 19, sparking violent protests that left dozens of officers injured and prompting an official investigation into his death. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the unrest while pledging a rigorous inquiry.

The man, Abderrahim Fakir, a Moroccan-born resident who had lived in Italy since childhood, died after police responded to emergency calls in the city's Pilastro district. Concerned citizens reported a man behaving erratically, shouting, and kicking garage doors. Authorities stated that officers arrived alongside emergency medical personnel and that Fakir damaged a police vehicle during the confrontation. Police used pepper spray and restrained him with plastic handcuffs. Shortly afterward, he suffered a medical emergency and died despite the presence of responders.

Footage of the incident, widely circulated on social media, shows Fakir face down on the ground with officers restraining him. In the video, he is heard crying for help and saying he cannot breathe before becoming unresponsive. The footage has drawn comparisons to the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the United States. Fakir's...