A driver plowed his car into pedestrians on a busy street in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing Mayor Massimo Mezzetti.
Mezzetti said no one was killed but four victims were in serious condition. He said one woman was pinned against a shop window and required the amputation of both legs.
Witnesses said that the suspect then attempted to stab people but was unsuccessful, according ot the report.
While officials have not identified a motive, the severity of the injuries and the driver’s attempt to flee have prompted national attention.
The crash comes just two weeks after a plowed into a crowd in central Leipzig, Germany, killing two people and injuring 25 others.
What to Know
Authorities say the vehicle veered onto the sidewalk along one of Modena’s main streets, sending several people flying before crashing into a shop window.
Emergency services — including police, carabinieri, and financial police — cordoned off the area as ambulances treated victims in the street. Several of the most critically injured were airlifted to hospitals in Modena and Bologna.
The driver — a 31‑year‑old man from the region with ties to Maghreb — attempted to flee but was stopped by bystanders and then detained by police, Mezzetti said. He was taken to police headquarters for questioning as investigators work to determine whether he acted deliberately or was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the report from AP.
Witnesses told authorities the man was holding a knife, though the mayor said he did not manage to stab anyone. Police are still investigating whether the weapon played any role in the incident.
Mezzetti called the crash a “very serious act,” adding that if it were intentional, “it would be even more serious.”
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni described the incident as “extremely serious” and thanked citizens who intervened to stop the suspect.
“I express my closeness to the injured people and their families. I also extend my thanks to the citizens who bravely intervened to stop the perpetrator and to the law enforcement agencies for their response,” Meloni said in a post on X Saturday, adding, “I trust that the perpetrator will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
What Happens Next
Italian authorities are now working to determine why the driver plowed into pedestrians and whether the act was intentional. Police are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and awaiting toxicology results to see if the 31‑year‑old suspect was impaired. The suspect is expected to remain in custody as investigators build their case.
Prosecutors are expected to decide in the coming days whether to pursue charges of attempted homicide, negligent injury, or terrorism‑related offenses depending on what the investigation uncovers.
Several victims remain in hospitalized, and officials say the severity of their injuries could influence the charges.
The mayor has ordered a review of street‑safety measures in the area, while national leaders have called for a full accounting of how the incident unfolded.
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