Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a thorough investigation into the death of a man during an arrest in Bologna, while condemning violent protests that erupted in response to the incident.

Abderrahim Fakir, who was Moroccan-born, died on Sunday following police intervention in the Pilastro neighborhood on the outskirts of the northern city. Police were reportedly called to the area after Fakir exhibited aggressive behavior and caused damage to a vehicle. A video circulating on social media shows Fakir lying face down on the ground, restrained by two officers. In the footage, Fakir can be heard pleading for help and stating he was unable to breathe before his movements ceased.

Meloni emphasized the importance of determining responsibility with "utmost rigour" and called for the pursuit of truth without bias or leniency. “It is essential that any responsibilities be ascertained with the utmost rigour,” she wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

In the wake of Fakir’s death, a protest was organized in central Bologna on Monday night. The demonstration, intended to condemn the circumstances surrounding the arrest, turned violent according to officials. Police unions reported that 56 officers were injured during clashes with protesters.

Meloni condemned the violence, saying those involved in the unrest were “not seeking the truth” but rather aiming to provoke confrontation. “Those who chose to use this incident as a pretext to lay waste to the city, attack officers and spread violence… were not seeking the truth – they were seeking confrontation,” she stated.

Local prosecutors have launched an inquiry into the circumstances of Fakir’s death, sparking renewed discussions about police use of force during arrests in Italy. Reports indicate officers initially attempted to calm Fakir before resorting to pepper spray and restraining him as they tried to handcuff him, reacting to his aggressive behavior.

The case has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about law enforcement tactics and accountability in the country, amid calls from various groups for transparency and justice.