Car Drives Into Crowd in Modena, Eight Hurt and One Woman Loses Both Legs
Car Ploughs Into Crowd in Modena City Centre, Eight Injured, One Woman Loses Both Legs
A car drove at high speed into a crowd of pedestrians in the centre of Modena on Saturday afternoon, injuring at least eight people, four of them seriously. One woman has had both legs amputated following the impact. The driver was arrested after being chased down and pinned to the ground by members of the public.
The incident occurred at around 4.30pm on Via Emilia Centro, when a Citroën C3 drove at sustained speed from Largo Garibaldi directly toward the pavement, striking a number of pedestrians before crashing into a shop window. Eight people were hit, four of them seriously. A woman was struck head-on by the car and has had both legs amputated. The driver, a 31-year-old Italian national of Moroccan origin, born in the province of Bergamo and resident in the province of Modena, had no prior criminal record. He is currently under interrogation at the Modena police headquarters.
Witnesses described the car accelerating suddenly and targeting the pavement. “We saw the car coming, it was heading for the pavement. It made a sudden acceleration. It was going at least 100 kilometres an hour, we saw people flying,” one witness told Sky TG24.
The Pursuit and Arrest
After the impact the driver attempted to flee on foot. Armed with a knife, he stabbed a bystander who tried to stop him, delivering blows described by the victim as aimed at the chest and head. Four or five members of the public gave chase regardless and eventually tackled the man to the ground, holding him until police arrived.
Modena mayor Massimo Mezzetti, who went to the scene immediately, singled out the citizens who intervened: “I want to thank these people. The man was also armed with a knife, they showed courage and great civic spirit. My heartfelt thanks go to them in this dramatic moment.”
Five of the eight injured were taken to the Baggiovara hospital in Modena. Two others were airlifted to the Maggiore hospital in Bologna.
The Investigation
The motive has not been established. Mayor Mezzetti was careful in his initial public statements: “We need to understand the nature of what happened, but it is a dramatic act. I am deeply affected. Whatever its nature, it is an extremely serious event. If it were an attack it would be even more serious.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, travelling in Greece, said she was following events with the utmost attention and was in constant contact with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and undersecretaries responsible for security. Deputy Prime Minister Tajani said he had spoken directly with Piantedosi and was praying for all those injured.
The investigation is ongoing. Via Emilia Centro has been cordoned off. This story is developing.
