Car-ramming incident in Modena leaves eight injured

On Saturday, a 30- to 31-year-old man of North African origin, identified as Salim El Koudri, drove a car into a crowd in the city center of Modena, Italy. The incident resulted in eight injuries, four of which are classified as serious, including two victims who suffered the loss of their legs and one person remaining in critical condition. After the collision, the suspect attempted to flee on foot and stabbed one of three bystanders who tried to intervene before being arrested by local police. Modena prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, characterizing the actions as indiscriminate and deliberate. While officials are currently determining the motive, Mayor Massimo Mezzetti noted that the suspect had previously received treatment for schizoid personality disorder in 2022. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella traveled to Modena on Sunday, with Meloni canceling a scheduled meeting with the President of Cyprus in Nicosia. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini subsequently advocated for stricter measures regarding the residency permits of criminal offenders. Sources provide conflicting details regarding the suspect's age, citing him as either 30 or 31 years old.