Modena, Italy. Italian authorities are investigating after a man drove into pedestrians in Modena’s city centre on Saturday, injuring eight people, and stabbed a bystander during an attempted escape. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella are set to visit the northern city on Sunday, government sources said.
Incident and arrest
A 30-year-old man, born in Italy and of North African origin, drove a car into a crowd in the city centre, injuring eight people, four of them seriously. He then attempted to flee and stabbed one of three passersby who tried to stop him, before being arrested by police.
Prosecutors’ investigation
Modena’s prosecutors said on Sunday that the suspect is under investigation for massacre and personal injury, adding that efforts are under way to establish the motive. They said the man struck pedestrians in the crowded city centre, which has more than 180,000 residents, “in an indiscriminate, random and deliberate manner”.
Among the seriously injured, two people suffered the loss of their legs, prosecutors said, with one in a life-threatening condition.
Officials’ visits and cancelled meeting
Meloni will travel to Modena on Sunday, cancelling a meeting in Nicosia with Cyprus’ president to make the trip, government sources said. The sources added that Mattarella will also travel to Modena.
Mayor’s remarks
Modena’s mayor, Massimo Mezzetti, told RaiNews24 late on Saturday that the man had received treatment for mental health issues in 2022 due to schizoid personality disorder, after which he went off the radar.
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