BOLOGNA, EMILIA-ROMAGNA, ITALY – JULY 19, 2026 Tragic incident occurred in the Pilastro district, in which a 42-year-old Moroccan-born man named Abderrahim Fakir died during a police intervention. The incident occurred after police responded to reports of a man who was allegedly shouting, behaving unusually, and damaging a vehicle or garage doors.
Upon arrival, officers used pepper spray against the man and subsequently restrained him. During the attempt to put him in handcuffs, he was held on the ground in a face-down position. A video recording taken by a witness shows the man calling for help during the intervention before he stopped responding.
Paramedics who were called to the scene attempted to resuscitate him, but the man was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. The exact cause of death has not yet been definitively determined, and the circumstances of the intervention are being investigated by Italian authorities.
The prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. Two police officers and four emergency service workers who took part in the intervention are being investigated. The case has sparked public debate and protests in Bologna, with many people demanding a thorough clarification of the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
READ MORE:
https://www.reuters.com/world/mans-death-during-police-arrest-italy-leads-street-protests-2026-07-20/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/21/protests-italy-bologna-abderrahim-fakir-police
