The Bologna prosecutor’s office is investigating the death of 42-year-old Abderrahim Fakir after he was detained by police. The man died on July 19 in the Pilastro district, The Guardian reports.

Two police officers held him on the ground, after which he stopped moving. Paramedics were nearby. Video footage of the incident that spread widely sparked protests in Bologna and Rome.

Fakir was born in Morocco but had lived in Italy since childhood and owned a small business. Police said they had received reports of a man behaving aggressively and erratically, after which medical assistance was called. According to preliminary autopsy findings, the cause of death may have been compression of the lungs. The final forensic results have not yet been published.

The prosecutor’s office is examining the actions of two police officers and four medical service workers as part of an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. The officers deny using excessive force and say they acted in accordance with procedures. The medics also maintain that they followed emergency care protocols.

The case has become the first instance involving the application of a new Italian law that grants public servants additional protection from criminal prosecution if they acted within the scope of their official duties or in self-defense. The police officers and medics have not yet been registered as suspects. This may happen if investigators determine that the force used was unjustified.

Fakir’s family lawyer, Fabio Anselmo, said the new provision could complicate the investigation and create conditions for impunity for law enforcement officers.

Fakir’s death has also sparked debate over Giorgia Meloni’s government policies on security and migration. Critics say the measures adopted under her government expand police powers and make it harder to hold security forces accountable.