Italy: Terror Attack in Modena Leaves 12 Injured (Video)
A man drove into pedestrians in Modena, injuring 12, then attacked a bystander with a knife; police detained him as investigations continue amid concerns over motive and public safety.
A car-ramming terrorist attack caused panic early Saturday afternoon in the center of Modena, northern Italy. The driver ran over pedestrians on a main street, then got out of the vehicle and attempted to stab a person who tried to restrain him.
Twelve people were injured in the incident, two of whom are in critical condition. A woman suffered severe injuries to her lower limbs, with doctors considering amputating both legs to save her life. The silver Citroën, after performing dangerous maneuvers, crashed violently into a store window on Via Emilia.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos. The car sped onto the sidewalk, leaving behind debris and injured people. Authorities rushed to the scene immediately and arrested the perpetrator on the spot. He is a 30-year-old North African man, who was taken to the police station under heavy escort for questioning.
Italian authorities are examining the motives behind the act, while no further details about the perpetrator’s background have yet been disclosed. Local media and testimonies confirm that the man attempted to use a knife against a citizen who approached him after the collision.
The mayor of Modena stressed that a worse tragedy was averted, although the incident has left deep concern in the city. Investigations are ongoing.
BREAKING:
Suspected terror attack in Modena, Italy.
A 2nd-generation migrant from Tunisia accelerated his car up to around 80 km/h and intentionally rammed a crowd of people. He then got out of the car and stabbed a man.
Unofficial sources speak of 2 dead & 8 seriously wounded pic.twitter.com/HzCJfesSXr
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 16, 2026
🚨 A car traveling at around 100 km/h plowed into pedestrians in Italy
In central Modena, the driver drove onto the sidewalk and hit several people. At least 7 were injured, two of them seriously.
After the crash, the man got out of the car with a knife and reportedly tried to… pic.twitter.com/UghmkiFD1o
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 16, 2026
The video of the attack
The Italian authorities have announced that yesterday’s car-ramming attack in Modena by Salim El Koudri was not a case of terrorism but due to “mental health issues”
🇮🇹🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/G4yardYJSn
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 17, 2026