Bologna, July 21, 2026 – “What happened in Bologna is unacceptable. Regarding the death of Abderrahim Fakir, it is imperative that any responsibilities be ascertained with the utmost rigor. The truth must be sought thoroughly, without prejudice and without discounts for anyone. But nothing can justify violence against law enforcement”. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thus comments, on social media, on the clashes that followed the demonstration to “demand truth and justice” and express closeness to the family of the 42-year-old who died on Sunday during a police intervention in Pilastro, a popular neighborhood of the city.
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“Those who chose to use the incident as a pretext to set Bologna ablaze, attack officers, and sow violence, also endangering the safety of citizens completely unrelated to the unrest, were not seeking the truth: they were seeking confrontation,” Meloni attacks. Who, while never mentioning the Mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, accused by many of having ‘fueled’ the anger by immediately calling for a demonstration, adds: “Fostering a climate of hatred and delegitimization towards an entire State body is an act of grave irresponsibility. Turning thousands of men and women in uniform into a target means striking those who serve Italy every day with professionalism, sacrifice, and courage.”
Lega, Fratelli d’Italia and Forza Italia in chorus: “Lepore must resign”
And it is precisely Lepore’s alleged “political responsibilities” that are at the heart of the controversy. Indeed, the mayor’s resignation has been requested by several parties. The Lega, with Undersecretary Lucia Borgonzoni, has filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and a motion of no confidence: “The mayor called a demonstration, and this turned into what everyone could see: it should be assessed whether there are criminal, administrative margins for a public administrator to do these things and go unpunished.” The Carroccio also wants to reintroduce a law to make those who organize demonstrations pay for the damages.
FdI, for its part, attacks with the group leader in the Chamber, Galeazzo Bignami: “Lepore is irresponsible. He must resign. He has devastated Bologna and continues to do worse and worse. He and the Pd should go home.” The ‘meloniani’ (Meloni’s supporters) have presented a petition and another complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office “to request the ascertainment of responsibilities for the guerrilla warfare, including the hypothesis of incitement to commit a crime.” Even Forza Italia has no doubts: “Lepore acts like an activist, not a mayor – say the ‘azzurri’ (Forza Italia members) in the Region –. An act of responsibility is needed, the city belongs to everyone.”
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Less obvious was Azione’s attack, with leader Carlo Calenda: “By the grace of God, no one died, but Lepore must resign”. And then he attacks Schlein’s silence on the matter. Senator Marco Lombardo and Elisabetta Gualmini, former Pd MEP, also indicated as a possible anti-Lepore competitor in ’27, speak: “Was it worth dividing the city? Mobilizing, in fact, against law enforcement?”
Police officers’ fundraiser for their colleagues
Meanwhile, solidarity is extended to the two police officers who intervened in Pilastro. With a fundraiser on GoFundMe, some colleagues have decided to offer them help. In parallel, an insurance protection has been activated that will allow the two to benefit from coverage of up to 10,000 euros each, but it is not yet available. The initiative was born considering the possible increase in costs for the judicial matter. In a few hours, the fundraiser exceeded 18,000 euros. The damage count is still ongoing: 64 injured among law enforcement officers. And furthermore: six police vehicles damaged, three municipal cars set on fire, dozens of bins and waste baskets torn down or burned, dozens of electric bikes vandalized (costing 30,000 euros), not to mention the tram construction sites set ablaze, with cobblestones used as weapons and barriers-barricades.
Schlein (Pd): “Something did not go as it should have”
In the case that led to Fakir’s death, “something did not go as it should have. I believe we were all shocked by the images we saw, because when a man dies during an arrest operation, it is clear that the State has failed”. This was stated by the leader of the Pd, Elly Schlein, speaking on ‘In onda’ on La 7. “This concerns all of us, and the State itself must be the first to try to shed full light on what happened. The most competent people, the authorities, will determine if there are individual responsibilities and whose they are,” she adds.
