Modena, Italy – Eight individuals were injured, four seriously, after a car was deliberately driven into a crowd and the driver subsequently attacked people with a knife on Saturday evening in the northern Italian city of Modena. The assailant, identified as Salim El Koudri, 31, was apprehended by bystanders following the chaotic incident. Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the attack, noting the suspect's history of mental health issues.
The incident unfolded when a vehicle, driven by El Koudri, reportedly rammed into pedestrians before crashing into a shop window. Modena Mayor Massimo Mezzetti confirmed the injury toll, adding that one woman sustained severe leg injuries that may necessitate amputation. Following the car crash, El Koudri exited the vehicle and began lashing out with a knife.
El Koudri, an Italian-Moroccan born in Bergamo and raised in Modena, is unemployed and has a known history with local mental health services, having been treated for schizoid disorders until 2024. Police investigations, including drug and alcohol tests, have so far found no indication of extremist links or radical Islamist motivations. Officials are focusing on "possible mental instability" as a key factor.
A brave bystander, Luca Signorelli, intervened by chasing and subduing El Koudri, sustaining a knife wound to the head during the struggle. Signorelli, along with several other citizens, played a crucial role in apprehending the assailant before law enforcement arrived. Their quick actions were praised by officials for preventing further harm.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the event as "extremely serious," expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. "I also extend my thanks to the citizens who bravely intervened to stop the perpetrator and to the law enforcement agencies for their response," Meloni stated on social media. Police continue to question El Koudri to ascertain whether the attack was pre-meditated.
The initial social media report that brought attention to the incident stated:
"The 'Italian man' who just drove into a crowd and then got out and started stabbing people… Salim El Koudri." This post highlighted the immediate identification of the perpetrator in the wake of the attack, which police are now thoroughly investigating.
