Eight people were injured in the pedestrian incident in the Italian city of Modena. According to media reports, the driver is an Italian of Moroccan descent. He attempted to flee with a knife in hand, but bystanders managed to detain him.
In the Italian city of Modena, a man driving a car crashed into a crowd of people and then attempted to carry out a knife attack. Eight people were injured, four of whom were diagnosed with serious injuries, and all required hospitalization. This was reported on Saturday, May 16, by the Italian agency ANSA.
According to preliminary data announced by the city's mayor, Massimo Mezzetti, the car "mounted the sidewalk, hit a bicycle," and then struck a 55-year-old woman, pinning her against a shop window. It is noted that she "sustained the most severe injuries, with both legs crushed."
One witness reported that the car was moving through the city center at a speed of about 100 km/h. After hitting the pedestrians, the driver attempted to flee, but several passersby chased after him. Ultimately, the perpetrator attacked one of the pursuers with a knife, but bystanders managed to detain him and hand him over to the police. The driver is currently being interrogated.
According to the mayor, as reported by ANSA, the driver was a 30-year-old man of North African descent. This refers to 31-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan descent, Salim El-Kudri, according to the newspaper il Resto del Carlino from the neighboring city of Bologna.
According to the publication, at the time of the incident, he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is also reported that the driver was born in the province of Bergamo, had obtained an economic education, and lived in the Modena area. He had no prior legal issues.
The pedestrian incident in Modena was commented on by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She described the event as "an extremely serious incident." "I express my sympathy to the victims and their families. I also thank the citizens who bravely intervened to stop the criminal, as well as the law enforcement agencies for their prompt response," said the head of government.
Meloni stated that she discussed the pedestrian incident with the mayor of Modena and that she is "in constant contact" with local authorities. "I am confident that the criminal will bear full responsibility for his actions," emphasized the Prime Minister.
Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the right-wing conservative party "League" Matteo Salvini confirmed the driver's identity, noting that he is a representative of "the second generation of migrants," reports "Deutsche Welle."
