Man drives car into pedestrians in Italy, injuring eight

A man drove his car at high speed into pedestrians in the historic center of Modena, northern Italy, injuring eight people, four of them seriously. The vehicle struck pedestrians along Via Emilia near the city’s cathedral before crashing into a shop window. After the car stopped, the 31-year-old driver exited the vehicle wielding a knife and attacked a passerby before being subdued by bystanders. Among the injured are five women and three men, with one woman reportedly losing both legs in the incident. Eyewitnesses described the car accelerating suddenly toward the pavement at an estimated speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), causing people to be thrown into the air. The suspect, identified as Salim El Koudri, was born in the province of Bergamo and resides near Modena. He was overpowered after stabbing a man who attempted to intervene. Authorities revealed that El Koudri had been referred to a mental health facility in 2022 for schizoid disorders but subsequently disappeared. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack as “extremely serious,” while Modena’s mayor, Massimo Mezzetti, stated the driver appeared to deliberately target pedestrians. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini labeled El Koudri a “second-generation criminal,” though Italian media report he is unemployed, holds an economics degree, and has no prior criminal record. The incident has raised concerns about public safety and mental health monitoring in Italy, particularly in crowded urban areas. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack and whether it was premeditated. The attack has also sparked political debate over immigration and security policies, given the suspect’s background and the involvement of far-right political figures in the public discourse.