Bologna, July 22, 2026 – The Ministry of Interior has launched an investigation into the **demonstration for Fakir** called by mayor **Matteo Lepore**, which reportedly was not agreed upon with the Police Headquarters and Prefecture. Law enforcement learned of the demonstration in **Piazza Nettuno** from news websites and from the press release sent by the Municipality of Bologna on Sunday evening. Previously, no written communication had been made, nor had the location of the demonstration been agreed upon. For this reason, the Viminale (Ministry of Interior) has launched an investigation and is verifying whether all procedures for organizing the event were correctly followed.
This emerges following the **tragic story of Fakir Abdelrahim, 42 years old,** of Moroccan origin, who died on Sunday in Bologna, Pilastro area, during a police stop. In the five-minute video that went viral worldwide, in addition to the images, Fakir can be heard asking for help. The Bologna Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating for manslaughter to understand what happened and any responsibilities: the position of four healthcare workers and two officers is being evaluated with the so-called ‘shield’ model 45 bis, and prosecutor Paolo Guido is personally following the case.
The story
After the news became public and the **publication of videos on news outlets**, at 6:58 PM, a joint statement arrived from Mayor Matteo Lepore and the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region Michele de Pascale: “We are deeply affected by what happened today in Pilastro. We express our closeness to the family members of the deceased person and to the entire community of the neighborhood, which is experiencing hours of great pain and tension. It is essential that full light be shed on the facts. We trust in the work of the competent institutions to ensure that every circumstance is ascertained with the utmost speed, rigor, and transparency.”
Then, at 8:16 PM, came the note **”Pilastro, tomorrow evening demonstration in Piazza Nettuno”**. In the statement, Mayor Matteo Lepore said: “I invite you to meet tomorrow in Piazza Nettuno at 7 PM to stand united and gather, to be close to the Pilastro community in such a painful moment. Let’s gather to demand truth and justice for the death of Abderrahim Fakir, for a moment of reflection and contemplation, to face this tragedy together as Bologna knows how to do.”
Read more Fenucci: «Orsolini’s renewal? We are close, we will make him a club legend”
The investigation
According to what the Viminale is investigating, until that moment neither the Police Headquarters nor the Prefecture had been formally informed of the demonstration. According to what was reconstructed by Carlino, there was a phone call with the Prefecture on Sunday evening and the following day (Monday) a phone call to the Police Headquarters. Carlino asked for the Municipality’s position. **However, no written procedures were found, nor had the location** of the event been agreed upon. Piazza del Nettuno is close to the headquarters of the Prefecture and Police Headquarters, places considered even more sensitive after what happened in Pilastro in case of potential tensions. Not by chance, even on Tuesday, the headquarters were guarded by police vans and security services. The Viminale’s verification is currently underway.
The controversy
After the demonstration for Fakir, the city on Sunday night was set ablaze by antagonists, violent individuals, and second generations who marched towards the center. The procession also infiltrated Piazza Nettuno and shouted **”Murderers” at the police**, in a crescendo of tension that led to devastation and 64 injured officers.
From a political standpoint, requests for Lepore’s resignation poured in from Fratelli d’Italia, Lega, and Azione. The mayor counterattacked by asking the Government not to remain silent with Fakir’s family. The decision to call the demonstration in Piazza Nettuno and what subsequently happened are also embarrassing the Democratic Party. Several exponents had advised the mayor against these methods of demonstration, precisely because of the risk of fueling tensions.
Read more Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are in Bologna: lunch at Trattoria della Santa
News being updated
