Left-wing violence erupts in Italy after 'aggressive' Moroccan dies during arrest

Left-wing violence has erupted in Italy after a Moroccan man died on Sunday while being restrained by police officers in Bologna.

Bystander footage captured two officers holding Abderrahim Fakir, 42, on the ground, with one appearing to squat on his back.

According to a police statement, Mr Fakir died during what authorities described as "containment efforts".

Pepper spray was deployed before officers pinned him down and slapped on handcuffs.

Prosecutors in Bologna have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The incident has drawn comparisons to the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis in 2020, which triggered worldwide protests.

Italian media reported that he had been experiencing a "psychiatric crisis" when the encounter with police took place.

Officers were called after he allegedly acted aggressively towards a man and damaged his vehicle as it was being parked.

Police confirmed they would review bodycam recordings from the officers who were present during the fatal incident.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Bologna's Pilastro neighbourhood on Sunday, waving Moroccan flags and directing anti-police chants at the authorities.

By Monday, another protest had been organised in the centre of the communist hotbed city with the backing of the city's left-wing Mayor Matteo Lepore.

Mr Fakir's sister, Khadija, addressed the demonstration, telling the crowd: "I will not rest until my brother has been avenged."

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The protest soon descended into chaos, with footage shared online showing demonstrators clashing directly with riot police and hurling chairs at officers.

Riot police responded by deploying tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the crowds.

Demonstrators then fashioned improvised barricades from metal fencing taken from nearby roadworks and tore window guards from armoured police vehicles.

Matteo Salvini, the right-wing leader of Italy's Lega, a coalition partner of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, took to social media to denounce the unsavoury scenes.

He blamed the disorder on "a left-wing movement that stokes hatred towards those in uniform who defend us", branding the violence "irresponsible and anti-Italian".

Ms Meloni's office has yet to issue a statement on Mr Fakir's death, while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi used an appearance on the TG1 news programme to urge the public to trust the judicial process.

A recently introduced procedure designed to offer enhanced safeguards for police officers facing allegations of misconduct in the line of duty is being applied for the first time in this case.

Fabio Anselmo, the Fakir family's lawyer, condemned those involved in the violence, accusing them of "trying to negate truth and justice for Fakir" and describing the "crude and violent exploitation" of the tragedy as a "premeditated attack on the Fakir family".

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