In Modena, a motorist mowed down pedestrians and injured eight; the motive still unknown

A driver hit numerous pedestrians on Saturday May 16 in the afternoon in the center of Modena, Italy, causing eight injuries, four of them serious, without it being yet known whether or not it was an attack.

According to initial testimonies, the driver in his thirties “aimed at the sidewalk, hitting (…) a bicycle, then crashed, hitting a woman head-on, the most seriously injured”who later had both legs amputated, Massimo Mezzetti, mayor of this northern Italian city, told the ANSA agency and local newspapers.

The man driving his car ended up in a window before fleeing and taking out a knife to attack a passer-by who tried to stop him. He was arrested and his interrogation is underway, the mayor told the RaiNews channel.

“What happened today in Modena, where a man knocked down several pedestrians and then allegedly stabbed a passerby, is extremely serious”declared the President of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni, on X, expressing solidarity with the injured and their families. “I also extend my thanks to the citizens who courageously intervened to arrest the person responsible, as well as to the police for their intervention (…). I have confidence that the person responsible will be fully accountable for his actions.”she added.

“Courage and great civic sense”

According to a witness interviewed by Italian channels, the car arrived at high speed in Emilia Centro street, very busy on Saturday afternoons, which is a few hundred meters from the cathedral.

“I heard impacts and saw people being knocked down. The car hit me and I managed to throw myself to the ground.”said the man, his head bleeding. “The car was smoking, I opened the door and he escaped. Four or five of us ran after him. He took out a knife, struck me in the head and another in the heart, which I managed to avoid. »

The mayor also thanked “these citizens who had courage and a great civic sense”. “We must understand the nature of this act, but it is a dramatic event. I am deeply touched. Whatever its nature, it is an extremely serious fact. If it was an attack, it would be even more serious”added Mr. Mezzetti.