Italy PM labels Modena vehicle attack 'extremely serious' as eight injured
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the incident in Modena, where a man in his 30s injured eight people before attempting to stab bystanders.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has described a violent incident in the northern Italian city of Modena as "extremely serious" after a man drove a vehicle into pedestrians, injuring eight people, four of whom are reported to be seriously hurt. The attack occurred around 16:30 local time in the city centre, south-east of Milan, prompting a swift response from civilians who chased and detained the suspect before handing him over to police.
According to Modena Mayor Massimo Mezzeti, the driver appeared to deliberately mount the pavement, accelerating to at least 100km/h before crashing into a shop window and striking multiple pedestrians. Eyewitnesses reported seeing people thrown by the impact of the vehicle. One victim was reportedly injured with both legs crushed, while another man who attempted to intervene was lightly injured before others joined to overpower the attacker.
Following the collision, the suspect exited the vehicle and brandished a knife, leading to the attempted stabbings. Mayor Mezzeti noted that the nature of the incident would be deemed "even more serious" if authorities determine the attack was premeditated. The suspect is identified as an Italian national born in Bergamo, of Maghreb origins, and residing in the Modena province.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini identified the suspect on social media platform X as Salim El Koudri. However, this identification remains uncorroborated by official police sources, and the motive for the attack has not yet been confirmed by authorities. The full extent of the victims' injuries continues to be assessed by medical professionals.
The incident has drawn immediate attention from the highest levels of government, with the Prime Minister’s office emphasising the gravity of the situation. As investigations proceed, officials are working to establish whether the vehicle’s trajectory was intentional and to determine the suspect’s motivations behind the violence that left eight people injured in the heart of Modena.
