Rabat – The killing of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan man who was killed after Italian police violently held him down, sparked protests in Bologna, with hundreds of people taking to the streets on Monday evening.
According to media reports, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the city, with some setting off firecrackers during the protest.
Police responded by using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd after a video of the horrifying incident went viral. The footage shows police officers pinning Fakir to the ground as he repeatedly called for help, struggling to breathe, before he lost consciousness.
Filmed by a local resident, the video shows Fakir lying face down.
“Help, help, that’s enough,” Fakir can be heard saying in the footage.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Fakir’s brothers accused Italian police of causing his death, saying he was pleading for help while being brutally held down.
An investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal police intervention. Prosecutors have requested body camera footage from the two officers involved as part of the investigation.
Italian public broadcaster Rai News reported that prosecutors placed six people under investigation, including four ambulance workers and two police officers from the Bolognina-Pontevecchio police station who responded to the scene.
According to the report, the officers first used pepper spray before pinning Fakir face down with his hands behind his back.
“He repeatedly cried out, ‘Help,’ before losing consciousness,” Rai News reported.
Prosecutors are investigating the brutal killing on suspicion of manslaughter while awaiting the results of forensic examinations.
A panel of forensic specialists has been appointed to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause and timing of Fakir’s death.
A preliminary examination found that Fakir had injuries to his head and face, and investigators are working to determine how he sustained them. Authorities are also reviewing videos of the incident, emergency calls, and communications between police and medical responders as part of the investigation.
