Eight injured, four critically, as car rams into pedestrians in Italy

Rome: A driver ploughed into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday (Rome time), injuring eight people, four of them critically, before allegedly trying to flee and being detained by police, local authorities said.

Authorities identified the suspect as Salim El Koudri, a 31-year-old second-generation Italian born in Bergamo and living in the province of Modena.

El Koudri, who holds a degree in economics, was unemployed, authorities said. He was detained and questioned at police headquarters in Modena as investigators tried to determine whether he had acted deliberately.

Investigators said at a press conference on Saturday evening that there was no immediate indication the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His home was searched as part of the investigation.

Modena Prefect Fabrizia Triolo said el Koudri had been known to local mental health services. No links to extremist groups had emerged.

Mayor Massimo Mezzetti said no one was killed in the dramatic crash but four victims were in a serious condition. He said a woman had been pinned against a shop window and required the amputation of both legs.

Mezzetti said the vehicle had entered one of the city’s main streets and the man allegedly “drove onto the sidewalk, sending several people flying”, before crashing into the shop window.

Victims were taken to hospitals in Modena and Bologna, including by helicopter for the most critical cases.

The suspect allegedly attempted to flee but was stopped first by some of the citizens involved in the crash and then by police, and was taken to headquarters for questioning.

Witnesses reported the man had been holding a knife, but he had not stabbed anyone, the mayor said.

“Whatever the nature, it is a very serious act,” Mezzetti 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 and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.

Meloni thanked citizens who had intervened to help stop the suspect and praised law enforcement, adding she was in contact with local authorities.

Emergency services, including police, carabinieri and financial police, responded to the scene, which was cordoned off as ambulances treated victims in the street.

AP

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