A terrifying and frantic race of a private car in the center of Modena spread terror on Saturday afternoon, leaving eight pedestrians injured . The bloody incident immediately mobilized the Italian authorities, while the first investigations of the prosecutor’s office are focused on the driver’s medical history, as the Italian media exclude, based on the information so far, any connection with international or domestic terrorist groups .
The attacker was identified as Salim El Kountri , a Moroccan-born Italian citizen who studied economics in Italy. According to official reports, El Kountri has no criminal record , but his past is marked by serious mental health problems. According to Italian public broadcaster Rai , the attacker had previously received specialized treatment for psychological problems , while reports indicate that he had recently suffered from severe mental disorders .
The chronicle of the tragedy unfolded on a central street of the city, when El Koundri’s vehicle ran over and injured seven pedestrians . Immediately after the mad dash, the driver got out of the car and attempted to escape on foot, injuring another passerby, who showed rare courage and tried to stop him. The immediate and courageous reaction of the citizens was what put an end to the threat, as they managed to restrain the perpetrator shortly before the catalytic intervention of the police forces.
The country’s political leadership reacted immediately to the incident. The President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella , contacted the mayor of Modena, asking him to convey his warm thanks to the citizens who selflessly stopped the perpetrator. At the same time, the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni , expressed her deep concern in a public statement on social media, describing the incident as “very serious” .
Meloni stated that she stands by the injured, praised the courage of the citizens and the mobilization of the police, while clarifying that she remains in constant contact with the authorities, expressing the expectation that the perpetrator will be held accountable with the strictest possible judicial judgment.
Meanwhile, anxiety over the fate of the victims remains high. The injured were rushed to area hospitals, with the latest medical reports indicating that a 55-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man are hospitalized in critical condition , fighting for their lives.
