Bologna, July 21, 2026 – Thousands at the sit-in in Piazza Nettuno, following the invitation of mayor Matteo Lepore. But then with the arrival of about a hundred among antagonists and collectives, the square was incited with shouts of “murderers” and “remove the criminal shield,” chanting “the whole world hates the police.” The street was gradually cleared due to the tension, which eventually escalated into clashes with the police, who also used water cannons (video) to disperse the crowd (photos). The damage toll today is heavy: broken windows, numerous graffiti on the walls, cars set on fire.
And as usual, the controversies arrive, with the opposition (including Galeazzo Bignami) calling on the mayor to resign and others lamenting the awakening of a city that feels wounded by yet another devastation. Despite the square being peaceful and having started as a mourning demonstration in memory of the Moroccan citizen, Abderrhaim Fakir, who died in Pilastro on Sunday during a police intervention; and despite the ‘no to violence’ from the family, today is another difficult day for Bologna.
Live news
“The many citizens who gathered yesterday in Piazza Nettuno in Bologna and the words spoken on that occasion by the niece of Abderrahim Fakir are the right, civil, and democratic response to the pain for what happened in Pilastro. Those who, after the demonstration, attacked the Police Forces and committed violent acts have carried out unacceptable actions, which have nothing to do with the demand for justice and instead represent a danger to democracy and civil coexistence. The men and women of the Police Forces are not enemies, they are the guarantors of the safety of all citizens and deserve everyone’s support. They must not operate outside the law, as some on the right would want, but in respect of legality, as must happen in democracies.” Andrea De Maria, PD deputy, states.
“The urban guerrilla that paralyzed Bologna yesterday, with damage and attacks on the police shouting ‘murderers’ is a very serious matter. It is unacceptable that the city’s mayor, Matteo Lepore, after Fakir’s death and the ensuing tensions, instead of calming the most unruly while awaiting verifications, decided to organize a public demonstration asking for ‘truth’ without understanding that, in fact, his decision could be perceived as an accusation against the police. A mayor who should first guarantee tranquility and safety to citizens has gratuitously become the author of an initiative whose consequences are before everyone’s eyes. He should immediately resign and apologize to the people of Bologna.” States Fratelli d’Italia deputy Mauro Malaguti.
In a frame from the videos made last night, it is noted that a municipal car was also set on fire last night during clashes between a group of activists and police officers.
Read more Iran-USA, signs of a truce. Towards (soon) reopening of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Ryanair profits collapse
“The clashes in Bologna have shown, once again, that the real violence is on the left.” This is claimed by Roberto Vannacci in an Instagram post where he compares the video he shared (“Unreal satire made by AI”) and the images of the clashes in Bologna (“Real violence made by the left”). “Now – writes the secretary of Futuro Nazionale – I expect Conte to scream like a crow also for the events in Bologna, that Boldrini asks for the resignation of mayor Lepore and that Schlein expels from the PD her councilor Lorenzo Pacini who, without any satire or irony, threatened to take up arms against the right. It goes from Christian Raimo, a professor who says ‘Neo-Nazis must be beaten, I teach at school and I think it is right to beat them,’ to Pacini who evokes armed subversive revolt.”
Siulp expresses “support to the 80 police officers injured. Violence against the police forces is never a form of dissent.” These are the words of provincial secretary Pasquale Palma: “It is unacceptable that such a delicate matter was irresponsibly fomented without even thinking for a moment that the usual professionals of disorder would turn it into a pretext to fuel tensions and attack the police forces.”
“For the devastation and the over 50 injured among law enforcement last night in the square in Bologna, mayor Matteo Lepore must take full responsibility. Calling the square without the awareness of being able to manage it in a balanced way is irresponsible, especially for someone who plays such an important role as the mayor of a metropolitan city.” This is stated by Sap general secretary (Autonomous Police Union), Stefano Paoloni, following the clashes recorded yesterday during the Bologna demonstration organized after the death of Abderrahim Fakir. “The sympathy for the death of a person – continues Paoloni – is an indisputable feeling, but inciting the population, or part of it, against the police forces is very dangerous. We express our solidarity and support to the injured colleagues, and we hope that mayor Lepore does not distinguish human solidarity between those who wear a uniform and those who do not.”
Read more Dead handcuffed, political reactions. Piantedosi: trust in the judges. Zuppi calls for dialogue
