Protests erupt as Moroccan man dies in Italy after being pinned down by cops in case likened to George Floyd in U.S
A migrant has died after he was pepper sprayed and hogtied by Italian cops, sparking a protest.
Abderrahim Fakir, 42, died while handcuffed in Bologna on Sunday, July 19, after police scrambled to reports of the Moroccan man behaving erratically.
His death has drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd who died after a police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest in Minneapolis, US, in May 2020.
Footage showed two police officers pinning Fakir, who ran a small cleaning business in the city, face-down to the ground as he screamed for help.A third person, believed to be a resident of the Pilastro neighbourhood, was seen holding his feet down as the officers restrained him.
The video also shows two paramedics standing around them and three other people spectating as the struggle unfolded.
Fakir could be heard desperately crying out for the officers to stop restraining him.
“Help, enough, enough,” Fakir begged.
Local media reported police used pepper spray on the 42-year-old during the confrontation.
Fakir was heard begging for water as the encounter went on for several minutes.
His movements eventually stopped as he appeared to lose consciousness before officers and a local resident were seen tying his feet together.
Police had been called after residents reported a man shouting and acting agitated in the area.
Authorities said Fakir allegedly struck a police vehicle before officers arrived and attempted to contain him.
According to local police, officers were called by residents who had “reported an angry person… other residents assisted them in containing the individual after a car was damaged.”
They added: “After containment operations, which were carried out in the presence of paramedics, the man died.”
Police said bodycam footage from the incident would be made available to judicial authorities.
It remains unclear how Fakir died, with reports suggesting he may have suffered a severe asthma attack or cardiac arrest.
Prosecutors have ordered an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
As the investigation continues, Fakir’s family have spoken of their heartbreak and demanded answers over his final moments.
His sister Khadija told local media: “I demand justice. I want revenge. I will never find peace until my brother gets justice.
“We don’t know what happened; we only received a phone call saying he was dead. They handcuffed him, and he died. They attacked him… and they beat him. There are witnesses.”
Fakir, who lived with his brother, suffered from underlying health conditions, according to his family.
Speaking about the officers involved, his sister said: “If someone is agitated, you have to calm them down.”
The shocking footage sparked protests across Bologna, with hundreds taking to the streets demanding answers over Fakir’s death.
Demonstrators reportedly chanted anti-police slogans and knelt with raised fists, a gesture associated with the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd’s death.
A further protest was planned in central Bologna, backed by centre-left Mayor Matteo Lepore, the Cgil trade union and other left-wing groups.
The League party, part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, called for a full investigation but defended the officers, saying they were “doing their duty” after being called by “exasperated citizens”.
Fakir’s death is now being investigated by Bologna prosecutors, who have opened a manslaughter investigation into those involved in the “various phases” of the police operation.
The case includes two police officers and four ambulance workers, although prosecutors said there are currently no suspects.
Investigators said the probe would examine the full sequence of events, including the moments before and after the footage circulating online.
Fakir’s lawyer Barbara Spinelli described him as a “kind, polite, and respectful person” who cared deeply about his business and employees.
She said: “He was an extremely kind, polite, and respectful person. A worker who cared about his company and his employees. He’s the last client I’d imagine would suffer such an end.”
Spinelli said Fakir had been living legally in Italy since childhood and was renewing his residence permit.
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