Eight injured after car ploughs into crowd in Italy's Modena

"A man drove a car into a crowd in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday, injuring at least eight people, four of whom are in serious condition, police said. The driver tried to flee after the car crashed into a shop window, Modena Mayor Massimo Mezzetti told local media. "He was seen with a knife in his hand, but he didn't manage to stab anyone. It seems like he was trying to hit someone," the mayor said. Police have arrested the driver and taken him to headquarters for questioning, Mezetti added."

"Authorities identified the driver as a 31-year-old second-generation Italian born in Bergamo and living in the province of Modena. "He had been treated at a mental health center for schizoid disorders, but we lost track of him after that initial period of observation in a care facility," city prefect Fabrizia Triolo told a news conference. Investigators said there was no immediate indication the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His home was searched as part of the investigation."

""Whatever the nature, it is a very serious act," the mayor said. "If it were an attack, it would be even more serious." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the incident "extremely serious" in a social media post. "I trust the person responsible will be held fully accountable for his actions," she wrote on X."

A car drove into a crowd in Modena’s historic center, injuring at least eight people, including four in serious condition. The driver crashed into a shop window and tried to flee. Police said the driver was seen holding a knife but did not stab anyone, and the mayor suggested the intent may have been to hit someone. The driver was arrested and taken to headquarters for questioning. Authorities identified him as a 31-year-old Italian living in the province of Modena, with prior treatment for schizoid disorders and no follow-up after an initial observation period. Investigators reported no immediate signs of drug or alcohol influence, and the driver’s home was searched. The prime minister called the incident extremely serious and demanded full accountability.

Read at www.dw.com