Moments after a car plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in Modena, Italy, on Saturday, four Italian civilians intervened, tackled the car’s driver and pulled him to the ground, the mayor of Modena said.
“A madman, I don’t know what to call the criminal who committed this act, got out of his car brandishing a knife,” Mayor Massimo Mezzetti told state news agency RAI. “We are grateful that four citizens captured him and turned him over to law enforcement.”
Eight people were injured when a car plowed into a crowd on Via Emilia, a busy street in the center of Modena, northern Italy, Mezzetti said. He added that four pedestrians were seriously injured, including a woman who had to have her leg amputated after a head-on collision with a car.
“I would like to thank the citizens,” Mezzetti said of the four people who arrested the suspected driver. “The man was also armed with a knife. They showed courage and great civic sense. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts at this dramatic moment.”
Mezzetti praised the four men, but added: “When they threw him to the ground, one received a minor knife wound.”
Mezzetti added that the man was being questioned at a local police station and said authorities would provide an update at a later date. It was not immediately clear whether the man was under the influence of drugs or acted intentionally.
Italian police told CNN that the 31-year-old unemployed man, who lives in Modena and has a degree in economics, is currently living with his parents. As of Saturday evening, he was still being questioned.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the incident “extremely serious” in a message on social media.
“My heart goes out to those injured and their families,” Meloni wrote. “We would also like to thank the citizens who bravely intervened to stop the perpetrators, and the law enforcement agencies who responded.”
“I have spoken with the mayor and am in constant communication with authorities to monitor the development of the situation,” she continued. “I believe the perpetrators will take full responsibility for their actions.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
