‘Stop, enough!’: Shock in Italy after 43-year-old dies during arrest in Bologna

A 43-year-old man has died in police custody during an arrest operation in Bologna, Italy, a case that has sparked anger and demonstrations in the city.

The incident occurred in the Pilastro area, where Abderrahim Fakir was stopped by law enforcement after an emergency line alert about an individual displaying disorderly behavior.

When patrols arrived at the scene, they attempted to de-escalate the situation with the suspect. However, the situation escalated, and after a physical altercation with officers, he fell to the ground and was handcuffed. A video shot by a resident of the area documents the moments when the 43-year-old was pressed face down to the ground by officers. In the recording, his cries are clearly heard: “Help, enough!”.

Relatives of the deceased have leveled serious accusations against the officers and are demanding a full clarification of the event. “I want justice. You can’t die like this,” his sister stated, blaming the police officers for not providing proper medical assistance.

According to the family’s testimony, the victim had health issues, including asthma.

After the tragedy, the Pilastro neighborhood became the scene of a protest where around 300 citizens gathered, chanting slogans against the police.

The Italian prosecution has launched an investigation to clarify the dynamics of the death. As part of the procedure, video recordings have been seized and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.