Modena, Italy. A man drove a car into a crowd in Modena, injuring at least eight people, four of whom were in serious condition, police said. The driver was later arrested after attempting to flee, according to the mayor.
Incident and arrest
The driver, a 30-year-old born in Bergamo and of North African origin who had moved to the province that includes Modena, attempted to flee after the car crashed into a shop window, Modena’s mayor told RaiNews24.
Pedestrians stopped the driver, and one of them was attacked with a knife and slightly injured, the mayor said. Police later arrested the driver.
Injuries and medical response
Among the injured, four were in serious condition, and two were airlifted to a hospital in Bologna, about 40 kilometers from Modena, Mayor Massimo Mezzetti told RaiNews24.
Mezzetti said it appeared the driver deliberately drove onto the sidewalk, hitting several people.
Authorities’ assessment
A source in the Interior Ministry said the driver was receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders, without elaborating on his motivations or whether terrorism was a factor.
A man who said he was stabbed by the driver told RaiNews24 he heard people falling and threw himself to the ground as the car approached, adding that the driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Authorities have not confirmed this.
Political reactions
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on X that she expressed solidarity with those injured and their families, adding that what happened in Modena was extremely serious and that she trusted the person responsible would be held fully accountable.
Matteo Salvini, leader of the League Party, also posted on X, highlighting the driver’s North African origins and calling him a “second-generation criminal.”
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