Giorgia Meloni calls for a thorough investigation into the death of Abderrahim Fakir following a violent police restraint in Bologna.
Giorgia Meloni has called for a rigorous investigation into the death of Abderrahim Fakir, a Moroccan-born man who died while being restrained by police in Bologna. The incident occurred on Sunday after officers were called to the Pilastro neighborhood to manage Fakir’s erratic and aggressive behavior. While officers used pepper spray and physical restraint to calm him, a widely circulated video shows Fakir pleading for help while face down on the ground. Following the death, thousands gathered in central Bologna on Monday to demand justice. While the majority of the crowd remained peaceful, a group of rioters clashed with law enforcement, leaving 64 officers injured. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended the police, stating that while the death must be investigated, "nothing can justify violence against law enforcement." She criticized the rioters for using the incident as a pretext for confrontation rather than seeking the truth. Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation and requested body-camera footage to determine if the use of force was excessive.