Rabat / Anadolu

The death of a Moroccan citizen during a police arrest attempt in Bologna, northern Italy, has sparked demands to reveal the circumstances of the incident and determine responsibility, amid political controversy and protests in the city.

Abdelrahim Faqir, 42, died on Sunday while two police officers were trying to restrain him in the Pilastro neighborhood of Bologna, after police were called following reports of him acting aggressively and damaging a vehicle.

Circulated video clips showed Faqir pinned to the ground with his hands behind his back, while he called for help and said he could not breathe, before losing consciousness and stopping moving.

Moroccan activists on social media platforms published demands for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the death and accountability for those responsible.

Faqir's sister also called for justice for her family in media statements, expressing fear that what happened could be repeated with others.

The Bologna public prosecutor's office opened an investigation into the circumstances and causes of death, covering the actions of all those involved in the intervention stages, including two police officers and four medical personnel who were on site.

The prosecutor's office said the investigation will include the circulated recordings, police body camera footage, and forensic medical examinations, with the aim of reconstructing the full sequence of events.

For his part, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that revealing the circumstances of the incident and determining responsibility is a matter for the judiciary.

Tajani criticized parties in the Italian opposition, considering that they are exploiting the incident to incite hatred towards state institutions and law enforcement agencies before the investigations are complete.

In turn, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that what happened in Bologna is 'unacceptable,' stressing the need to determine any responsibilities with the utmost rigor and to seek the truth without prejudice or leniency towards any party.

At the same time, Meloni condemned the acts of violence that accompanied protests in the city of Bologna, saying that attacking police officers and endangering citizens does not serve the search for truth but aims at confrontation.

Italian MP Ilaria Cucchi criticized Meloni's government, considering that its policies contributed to creating a climate that fuels racism and violence, while politicians from the ruling coalition defended the principle of presumption of innocence for the police officers until the investigations are concluded.

Bologna witnessed protests following Faqir's death, parts of which turned into confrontations between demonstrators and police forces, who used tear gas and water cannons, according to Italian media.