Man dies in police restraint in Bologna, sparking protests

A 42-year-old Moroccan-born man died while being restrained by police in Bologna, Italy, on July -19, 2026, sparking widespread protests and a manslaughter investigation. Abderrahim Fakir, a legal resident who had lived in Italy since childhood and ran a small removals and cleaning business, lost consciousness after officers used pepper spray and held him face down on the ground.

Police responded to the city's Pilastro district shortly after noon on July -19 after receiving reports of a man behaving erratically and damaging a vehicle. Authorities stated that Fakir allegedly became aggressive, prompting officers to use pepper spray before restraining and handcuffing him. Video footage filmed by a resident and widely shared online shows Fakir lying face down as two officers hold him. He is heard repeatedly calling out "help, help, that's enough" before his movements gradually cease. The footage shows police binding his ankles and, only after a moment, checking his vital signs alongside ambulance workers who were present. Fakir's family said he suffered from asthma and heart disease.

The incident has prompted multiple official investigations. Bologna prosecutors have opened a...