Italian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters chanting "murderers" during demonstrations in the northern city of Bologna, over the death of a Moroccan businessman during an arrest attempt.
Two cars were set on fire, barricades were erected in streets using bicycles and 11 protesters and police were injured during the protests, Corriere della Sera, Italy’s newspaper of record reported.
Moroccan-born Abderrahim Fakir, who ran a small removals and cleaning business, died on Sunday after police were called to deal with a man behaving aggressively. Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances around the 42-year-old’s death.
Footage of Fakir’s arrest filmed by a neighbour shows him lying face down on the ground, calling for help and struggling to breath, while two officers restrained him.
According to media reports, police tried to calm him before using pepper spray and holding him down while trying to handcuff him after he reacted aggressively.
During the protests on Monday night, demonstrators threw a firecracker near a police building in the city, while others sat in a square holding a photo of Fakir, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
Fakir’s sister, Khadija, told reporters during earlier protests on Sunday that she wanted “justice” for her brother.
“They killed my brother in cold blood,” she added.
Tommaso Foti, European Affairs Minister in the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, said chants of ‘police murderers’ during the demonstrations were “disgraceful.”
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said he had "full confidence" an inquiry would establish the facts and clarify what happened.
Piantedosi also criticised the decision of Bologna’s left-wing Mayor Matteo Lepore to organise a demonstration about the incident.
“Calling for a protest was a mistake. Some people never miss a chance to exploit the death of an individual,” he said in remarks carried by Corriere della Sera.
Lepore said that Bologna would “remain united” and described the gathering organised in the city’s Piazza Nettuno as an "occasion for quiet reflection and public participation.”
Bologna Police said they would release bodycam footage from the officers who intervened to investigators.
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