Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan national who had lived in Italy since childhood, died on Sunday in the Pilastro district of Bologna after being restrained by two police officers. A video recorded by a resident shows him handcuffed and held face-down on the ground, repeatedly crying “help” and “enough” before falling silent. He was pronounced dead shortly after by an emergency doctor. Bologna prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the two officers and four health workers who were present.

The six individuals have been entered into a new preliminary register under Italy’s so-called “penal shield” law, which allows prosecutors to assess whether their actions were justified before any formal indictment. This is the first known application of the measure, introduced by the Meloni government earlier this year. The family’s lawyer, Fabio Anselmo, has called for the investigation to be conducted by an independent force, not the same police corps, and has denounced the leaking of Fakir’s criminal record. An autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death.

On Monday evening, thousands gathered in Bologna’s Piazza Nettuno for a peaceful demonstration called by Mayor Matteo Lepore. After the main event, a breakaway group moved towards the prefecture, where clashes erupted. Protesters threw objects and fireworks at police lines; officers responded with water cannon and tear gas. At least one municipal car was set alight, and shopfronts were damaged. Medical services treated 11 people, including five police officers; police unions claimed up to 60 officers were injured, though this figure has not been independently confirmed. The family of Fakir and their lawyer condemned the violence.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the violence was “unacceptable” but stressed that nothing justifies attacks on the police, while Mayor Lepore distinguished between the peaceful square and the “clashes that do not represent Bologna.” Some right-wing politicians accused the mayor of inciting unrest and called for his resignation. The case has drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd in the United States, with the New York Times noting the parallels. The investigation remains in its early stages, and authorities have not yet established whether the restraint technique or any pre-existing medical condition contributed to Fakir’s death.