The Moroccan died on a street in Bologna on Sunday.Image: keystone
July 21, 2026, 01:39July 21, 2026, 01:39
In Italy, protests broke out in several cities after the death of an immigrant from Morocco in a police operation. In the university town of Bologna, where the 42-year-old died on Sunday, several thousand people gathered in the city center. Slogans such as “Truth and Justice” could be read on posters. Family spokesmen demanded clarification.
Following the initially peaceful rally, some participants threw bottles and Molotov cocktails at the police, according to eyewitness reports. According to a report by the Italian news agency Ansa, the window bars of armored police vehicles were also torn off. The police then used water cannons and tear gas.
According to emergency services, at least eleven people were injured, both demonstrators and police officers. The lawyer for the family of the man killed condemned the riots.
The case is making a lot of headlines in Italy
The Moroccan died on a street in Bologna on Sunday. A video shows him being pushed to the ground by two police officers. His hands are handcuffed behind his back. He calls out several times: “Help! Enough, enough!” However, the officers only let go of him after several minutes, when he was no longer moving. An emergency doctor then pronounced him dead.
The case is making many headlines in Italy because it is suspected to be a case of excessive police violence. The right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised “complete transparency” in the investigation. The investigators hope that the autopsy of the body will provide information. In addition, the body camera of one of the two officers involved was handed over to the public prosecutor’s office. The video, which was shot by a neighbor, is also in their possession.
Preliminary investigations against officials
Preliminary investigations are now underway against the two police officers for negligent homicide, as well as against a total of four paramedics who, according to the video, initially only observed the scene. A regulation from Italy’s new security law applies to the officers: Unlike usual suspects, they are not entered directly into an investigation register, but into a separate preliminary register.
This preliminary register was created primarily for cases in which police officers or other officials use violence in the performance of their duties and at first glance there appears to be a justification for this. Only when it later becomes apparent that this justification does not apply will a regular investigation be initiated. (sda/dpa)