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Car Ramming in Modena Injures 8 as Bystanders Tackle Knife‑Wielding Driver

Police opened a motive probe that highlights the suspect’s mental‑health history.

Overview

  • Police say a driver in Modena ran onto the sidewalk Saturday, hit pedestrians, crashed into a shop window, then pulled a knife and injured a bystander before bystanders tackled him and officers arrested him.
  • Eight people were injured, four are in critical condition, and a woman lost both legs after being pinned against the storefront window.
  • Authorities identified the suspect as a 31-year-old Italian of Moroccan heritage who previously received treatment for a psychological episode in 2022.
  • Investigators searched his home and reported initial checks found no psychotropic substances, and they are reviewing security video and witness accounts to determine motive.
  • Ambulances and multiple police forces secured the city center, several victims were airlifted to regional hospitals, and national leaders thanked civilians who helped detain the suspect.