Modena Car Attack Injures Eight, Prime Minister Meloni Calls Incident “Extremely Serious”

A man drove a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, injuring eight individuals, with four reportedly in a serious condition. Among the injured is a woman who suffered crushed legs.

The incident occurred around 16:30 local time in central Modena. Eyewitnesses described a vehicle accelerating to approximately 100km/h before striking people on the pavement. The city’s mayor, Massimo Mezzetti, stated that the driver appeared to have “deliberately driven on to the pavement, hitting several people and crashing into a shop window.”

Following the collision, the driver exited the vehicle and brandished a knife. Passers-by pursued and ultimately detained the man, reportedly in his 30s, before handing him over to law enforcement. One person sustained minor injuries while attempting to apprehend the suspect.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labelled the incident as “extremely serious.” Mayor Mezzetti indicated that the situation would be considered “even more serious” should investigations confirm the attack was premeditated. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini identified the suspect on X as Salim El Koudri, an Italian national born in Bergamo “but of Maghreb origins,” residing in Modena province.