A man drove his car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, four seriously, officials said. They included a woman who had to have both her legs amputated. After the car came to a halt against a shop window, the driver emerged holding a knife and injured a passer-by who gave chase, before the suspect was overpowered. The suspect, 31, has been identified by officials as an Italian national of Moroccan origin. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who cancelled a planned trip to Cyprus and described the incident as 'extremely serious', visited the injured in hospital with President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday. She also met Luca Signorelli, the passer-by who intervened, and thanked him for his actions. 'What makes an ordinary person heroic is the moment when the heart chooses to do good, even when that involves a risk,' she wrote on X, sharing an image of them embracing. The incident occurred around 16:30 (14:30 GMT), when the speeding car hit pedestrians in Via Emilia next to the iconic cathedral of Modena, south-east of Milan. The vehicle then veered left before coming to a halt against a shop window. Signorelli had told Italian media he was trying to help the woman when he noticed the driver trying to run away. He said he gave chase and the attacker turned on him with a knife in hand. He received blows before being able to restrain the suspect, with the help of other passers-by. At a news conference, Modena's prefect stated that the suspect had been referred to a mental health center in 2022 for 'schizoid disorders', but had since 'disappeared without a trace'. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the car approach aggressively and accelerate abruptly, with descriptions confirming that it reached speeds close to 100km/h (62mph). Modena's Mayor stated that it appeared the driver deliberately drove onto the pavement, hitting several people before crashing. Five women and three men were injured in the incident. The suspect, born in the province of Bergamo, lives in the province of Modena, with no criminal record cited, and Italy's Deputy Prime Minister referred to him as a 'second-generation criminal'.
Tragedy in Modena: Car Ramps Into Crowded Street, Eight Injured
Tragedy in Modena: Car Ramps Into Crowded Street, Eight Injured
A tragic incident in Modena, Italy, occurred when a vehicle plowed into pedestrians, injuring eight individuals, four of whom are in serious condition. The attacker, whom authorities identified as a 31-year-old Italian national of Moroccan descent, brandished a knife after crashing his vehicle. Emergency services and government officials responded swiftly.
In Modena, Italy, a man drove a car at high speed into a crowded street, injuring eight pedestrians, including a woman who suffered severe injuries and underwent leg amputations. The man exited the vehicle holding a knife but was restrained by bystanders. Italy's Prime Minister visited the injured, calling the event 'extremely serious.' An investigation is underway into the suspect’s mental health history.
