A serious incident has shocked Italy, after a 42-year-old man of Moroccan origin lost his life during a police intervention in the Pilastro neighborhood of Bologna. The victim, Abderrahim Fakir, was filmed repeatedly shouting "Help, help, enough!" while being held down on the ground by two police officers and a civilian who blocked his legs.
According to witnesses and footage circulating in the media, Fakir screamed for about five or six minutes, until his voice died away and he showed no signs of life. He was handcuffed and his legs were tied, while Red Cross teams and doctors waited for the situation to be brought under control so they could sedate him. When the body was turned over, the 42-year-old was unconscious and his face was covered in blood.
The incident occurred after residents notified police that the man was behaving aggressively, even damaging a vehicle. According to authorities, he was out of control and may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. To neutralize him, police first used irritating spray and then immobilized him on the ground with the help of several citizens.
The Bologna prosecutor's office has launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the death. The footage from the police officers' body cameras has been seized and an autopsy is expected. Preliminary forensic examinations suggest that the 42-year-old may have suffered a cardiac arrest, but the expertise will determine whether other factors, such as the pressure exerted during immobilization, the use of spray, high temperatures or possible substances consumed, contributed to the death.
The victim's family accuses the police of excessive use of force. "They treated him like an animal. He was just asking for help and they killed him," his sister said, while his brother demanded that the truth come to light. Later, some relatives called for calm, stressing that they only want justice and trust in the investigation of Italian justice.
