Italian authorities are investigating a car-ramming incident that left eight people injured in the northern city of Modena on Saturday, May 16, after a driver mounted the pavement and struck pedestrians in the city center.
According to Reuters, the vehicle hit several people before crashing into a shop window. Four of the injured were reported to be in serious condition, while two critically injured victims were airlifted to a hospital in Bologna.
The suspect has been identified by Italian media as Salim El Koudri, a 31-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan origin living in the Modena area. He was arrested shortly after the incident. Reports say that after the crash, he tried to flee the scene and allegedly threatened or attacked a passerby with a knife before being stopped by civilians and police.
Authorities are treating the case as a serious criminal act but have so far ruled out a link to terrorism. Italy’s Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, said Monday that the suspect did not appear to have connections to any terrorist organizations. Investigators are instead examining other possible explanations, including the suspect’s reported mental health history.
The incident shocked Modena and quickly drew national attention. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella visited the city after the attack, while local officials praised civilians who helped stop the suspect.
For now, the investigation remains focused on determining whether the attack was planned, what motivated the driver, and whether his psychological condition played a role. The injured victims remain at the center of public concern as Modena continues to deal with the aftermath of one of the most serious recent attacks on pedestrians in Italy.
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