Preliminary autopsy findings have pointed to asphyxiation as a possible cause of death in the case of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan national who died during a police arrest in the Italian city of Bologna on July 19.
According to Italy’s ANSA news agency, the forensic examination found blood in Fakir’s lungs as well as pathological signs consistent with prolonged compression of the chest.
The findings have renewed scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding his death, which sparked widespread outrage in both Morocco and Italy after videos of the arrest circulated on social media.
The footage appears to show Fakir pinned face down on the ground while two police officers pressed their weight onto his torso. Forensic experts note that blood accumulation in the lungs may indicate acute respiratory distress occurring shortly before death.
However, prosecutors in Bologna have not established a definitive cause of death. Additional histological and toxicological tests have been ordered to determine whether other medical factors, including pulmonary edema or a possible drug overdose, contributed to the fatality.
The family’s lawyer, Fabio Anselmo, known for representing victims in several high-profile Italian police violence cases, argued that the injuries are consistent with compression asphyxia.
Lawyers representing the two police officers have rejected that conclusion, maintaining that no major fractures or skeletal injuries were found. They contend that any chest compression was the result of cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts carried out by emergency responders.
The investigation is also examining the use of pepper spray during the arrest, the involvement of a civilian who reportedly assisted officers in restraining Fakir, and the response time of Red Cross emergency teams.
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