He shouted: "Help!

A 42-year-old Moroccan migrant named Abderrahim F. died after being pinned face-down by two police officers during a confrontation in Bologna, northern Italy. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon and has sparked widespread debate over the conduct of law enforcement. According to Italian media reports, Abderrahim F. was restrained for several minutes with his hands bound behind his back using cable ties before he stopped moving. Two paramedics who arrived at the scene reportedly did not intervene despite his repeated cries for help, saying “Aiuto! Basta, basta!” which translates to “Help! Enough, enough!” The incident was captured on video by local residents in the Pilastro neighborhood in northeastern Bologna. The footage shows Abderrahim F. being held down by the officers' hands and knees while a third person, believed to be a bystander, also restrained him by the ankles. The video ran for approximately five minutes and showed the man’s body lying motionless on the ground after the officers released him. Paramedics attempted resuscitation efforts but were unable to revive him. According to police statements, the officers had been called to the area after being alerted by local residents in the troubled neighborhood. They responded to a situation involving a man who had become agitated and threatened neighbors. Upon arrival, Abderrahim F. allegedly kicked one of the patrol cars, prompting the officers to use pepper spray and restrain him with cable ties. A rescue vehicle was also dispatched to the scene. Authorities have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death and are reviewing body camera footage from the officers involved. The regional health authority has launched an investigation into the actions of the two paramedics present at the scene. In the neighborhood, where many migrants from North Africa reside, peaceful protests erupted on Sunday evening following the incident. Bologna's mayor, Matteo Lepore, a member of the Social Democratic Party, urged citizens to gather on Monday evening at the central Neptune Square near city hall to demand truth and justice. Lepore and Michele De Pascale, president of the Emilia-Romagna region and also a Social Democrat, called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. Angelo Bonelli, co-chair of the Left and Green party alliance, drew parallels to the case of George Floyd, an African American man killed in 2020 during a police encounter in Minneapolis, USA. He noted that there was no indication of danger posed by Abderrahim F. and suggested that the situation did not warrant such force. Andrea De Maria, a Social Democratic MP from Emilia-Romagna, described the incident as painful and emphasized the need for swift clarification. Abderrahim F.'s sister expressed her anguish, stating that no one should have to die in this manner. Meanwhile, representatives from right-wing parties defended the police action. Galeazzo Bignami, leader of the parliamentary faction for Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, claimed the officers acted professionally and appropriately. A statement from the League, led by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, asserted that the police fulfilled their duties and warned against premature judgments about the incident. Instead, they advocated for the judicial review of the body camera footage to provide clarity.