by InTrieste
The arrest of a senior police officer in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old Moroccan man in Milan has intensified scrutiny of law enforcement practices in Italy and complicated a new security initiative promoted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Carmelo Cinturrino, 42, an assistant chief at the Mecenate police station, was taken into custody on suspicion of murder in the Jan. 26 killing of Abderrahim Mansouri in Rogoredo, a wooded area on the southeastern outskirts of Milan long associated with drug trafficking.
Mr. Cinturrino initially told investigators that he had acted in self-defense after Mr. Mansouri allegedly pointed a gun at him during a nighttime patrol. He said he fired from about 20 meters as Mr. Mansouri advanced despite orders to stop.
But Milan prosecutors say forensic evidence and witness testimony contradict that account. An autopsy found that the bullet struck Mr. Mansouri in the right temple and that his head was turned slightly to the left, raising questions about whether he was facing the officer at the time of the shot. Prosecutors allege that Mr. Mansouri was unarmed and may have been attempting to flee.
Investigators further contend that after the shooting, a colleague was sent to retrieve a replica Beretta pistol from the police station and that the blank-firing weapon was placed near the body to support the claim that Mr. Mansouri had been armed. Fingerprints belonging to Mr. Cinturrino were reportedly found on the gun, but none from Mr. Mansouri.
Four other officers are under investigation on suspicion of aiding and abetting, including for initially backing Mr. Cinturrino’s account and for waiting 23 minutes before calling emergency services.
Through his lawyer, Mr. Cinturrino acknowledged placing the gun near the body, saying he feared the consequences of what had happened. “I made a mistake,” he said, according to Italian media reports.
The case has taken on political significance. In the days following the shooting, members of Ms. Meloni’s coalition cited the episode as evidence of the dangers police officers face and the need for expanded legal protections when they use force.
Earlier this month, the government approved a security decree that would broaden self-defense guarantees for officers and allow preventive detention of individuals deemed threats to public safety ahead of demonstrations. The measures, introduced after clashes in Turin left more than 100 officers injured, must be converted into law by Parliament within 60 days.
After news of the arrest, Ms. Meloni said that if the allegations were confirmed they would represent a “grave betrayal” and that the state must be firm with those who violate the law, while expressing support for the majority of officers who serve with integrity.
Opposition parties and civil rights groups have called for a reassessment of the proposed security measures, arguing that expanded protections could weaken oversight and accountability. As the investigation continues, the case has become a focal point in Italy’s debate over public order and the limits of police authority.
