In brief
Mohamed Amin Bessioud, 25, an Italian citizen of Tunisian origin, was under house arrest for drug-related offences in Cosenza.
Carabinieri discovered 100 grams of hashish during the check and handcuffed Bessioud before he broke free.
Bessioud's mother says her son was depressed and felt tormented by one of the officers, who had visited often.
She claims officers closed the bedroom door, preventing her from entering, and she saw her son jump when she forced it open.
The Cosenza prosecutor's office has opened a file on the death; the mother intends to file a complaint and inform the Tunisian consulate.
- Jump from balconyBessioud breaks free from handcuffs and jumps from the third-floor balcony.
- Hospital transportEmergency services take Bessioud to hospital.
- Death confirmedBessioud dies from his injuries.
The incident
On the morning of 23 July 2026, Carabinieri officers visited the Cosenza apartment of Mohamed Amin Bessioud, a 25-year-old Italian citizen of Tunisian origin, to verify his compliance with a house arrest order for drug-related offences. During the check, which some reports describe as a perquisition, the officers discovered 100 grams of hashish. They handcuffed Bessioud in his bedroom. Despite being restrained, he managed to break free and jumped from the third-floor balcony. Emergency services transported him to hospital, but he died from his injuries. The Cosenza prosecutor's office immediately opened an investigation.
Mother's account
Bessioud's mother, who was in the apartment at the time, gave a detailed account to reporters. She said her son suffered from depression and was terrified of the checks, feeling tormented by one of the officers. She identified the two officers as ones who came often, stating, "Many carabinieri are of gentle manners, but these two no." She had asked them not to close the bedroom door because her son was agitated, but they shut it and remained alone with him. She heard pressure being applied, then opened the door and saw him jump. She was unable to save him.
“I asked the carabinieri not to close the door of the room, because my son is depressed and was agitated, the two soldiers instead closed the door and remained alone with Mohamed. I asked them to let me enter, they didn't allow me, I heard screams and when I decided to open the door I saw my son throw himself into the void from the balcony.”
After the fall, she says she was held in the house and not allowed to go to her son even when the ambulance arrived. She suffers from asthma and wanted only to be close to him in his last moments. She intends to file a complaint through her lawyers and inform the Tunisian consulate. She also stated that she had repeatedly sought help to have her son hospitalized for depression but received none.
“I have always asked for help, I pushed for his hospitalization given the depression but no one helped him. That carabiniere will not have my forgiveness.”
“I suffer from asthma and I just wanted to go down to be close to my son in his last moments, but they kept me stopped in the house until the arrival of help, not allowing me to get close even when the ambulance arrived.”
Investigation
The Cosenza prosecutor has opened a file on the death. No further details have been released. The Carabinieri have not publicly commented on the mother's allegations. The mother's legal team is preparing a formal complaint.
Background
Bessioud was born in Italy to Tunisian parents and held Italian citizenship. He was under house arrest for drug charges. The mother's account alleges that officers tormented her son and prevented her from intervening.