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Four civilians tackle knife-wielding driver after car plows into crowd in Italy
Rnz news ^ | 17 May 2026

Posted on 05/16/2026 10:01:29 PM PDT by Cronos

Shortly after a car plowed into a crowd of pedestrians in Modena, Italy, four Italian civilians stepped in and tackled the vehicle's driver, pulling him to the ground, according to the city's mayor.

"The madman, I don't know what to call him, the criminal who committed this act, he got out of the car brandishing a knife," Mayor Massimo Mezzetti told state-owned news agency RAI.

"Four citizens, whom I thank, captured him and handed him over to law enforcement."

Mezzetti said that eight people were wounded when the car rammed into a crowd on Via Emilia, a busy street in the centre of the northern Italian city of Modena. Four of the pedestrians suffered serious injuries, he added, including one woman whose legs had to be amputated after being struck by the car head-on.

"I want to thank these citizens," Mezzetti said of the four who apprehended the suspected driver.

"The man was also armed with a knife; they showed courage and great civic sense. My deepest thanks go to them in this dramatic moment."

When praising the four, Mezzetti also said that when "they threw him to the ground, one was slightly injured" by the knife.

Luca Signorelli told Reuters that he was helping a woman who had been badly injured by the car, when the driver attempted to flee.

"I chased him," Signorelli said, adding that several others followed to help.

"He disappeared behind a row of cars, then suddenly reappeared holding a knife in his hands."

"A fight broke out," Signorelli said.

"I was stabbed twice, once in the heart and once in the head. I managed to dodge one of the two, and during the other one I grabbed his wrist and blocked him."

Other eyewitnesses told Reuters that the woman struck had been pinned up against the front of a shop, and her legs had been "amputated" by the force of the crash.

"He crushed her right up against the shop window," one witness said.

The mayor told RAI that the man is being questioned at the local police station, and said that authorities would provide an update later. It was not immediately clear whether the man was under the influence of substances or acted deliberately.

The Italian police told CNN that the man is a 31-year-old unemployed resident of Modena with a degree in economics, currently living with his parents. As of Saturday evening (Local time), he is still being questioned.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a statement on social media that he was in contact with Italy's interior minister "for further details," and thanked law enforcement for apprehending the suspect.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the incident as "extremely serious" in a message on social media.

"I express my closeness to the injured people and their families," Meloni wrote.

"I also extend thanks to the citizens who courageously intervened to stop the perpetrator and to the law enforcement agencies for their response."

"I have spoken with the Mayor and remain in constant contact with the authorities to follow the developments of the situation," she continued.

"I trust that the perpetrator will be held fully accountable for his actions."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: italy; modena; moroccan; vehicularjihad
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the man is a 31-year-old unemployed resident of Modena with a degree in economics, currently living with his parents.
1 posted on 05/16/2026 10:01:29 PM PDT by Cronos
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To: All

“The driver — a 30-year-old born in Bergamo and of North African origin, who had moved to the province that includes Modena — attempted to flee after the car crashed into a shop window, Modena’s mayor told broadcaster RaiNews24.

As he attempted to flee, the driver was stopped by some pedestrians, one of whom he attacked with a knife and slightly injured. The driver was later arrested by police.

The driver was receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders, a source in the Interior Ministry said, “

Yup, Mohammedans.

The psychiatric disorder is also called ISLAM


2 posted on 05/16/2026 10:03:25 PM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: Cronos

Possibly related to the ongoing conflict between the Algerian-backed Polisario Front and Morocco. US pressure lately has been leading up to declaring the PF a terrorist organization this summer which may be followed by European countries. Iran has been backing the PF too. It will be interesting to see this guy’s connections.

“….The international community condemnation of these attacks adds more pressure on the Algerian military, which funds, arms and shelters the [Polisario] separatist group, to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2797 endorsing Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.

The United States is the first country to have denounced the Polisario aggressions. It was followed by the United Nations, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Czech republic, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates…


3 posted on 05/16/2026 10:13:08 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: piasa

Interesting.

I know roughly about tye Western Sagara.

But:
1. Why does Algerua support them? Just to p off Morocco?

2. Why did they attack Modena rather than Marrakesh?


4 posted on 05/16/2026 10:19:51 PM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: Cronos

I think more importantly that Iran is the power behind the curtain here - it is their way of getting back at the King of Morocco who was a supporter of the Shah of Iran and a steady opponent of the Iranian Revolution.


5 posted on 05/16/2026 10:32:01 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Cronos

Hezbollah has been training members of the Polisario to extend its influence in North Africa.

A lot of drug money is at stake , too, most likely. The cocaine from South America passes through North Africa to Europe and Iran must get a cut somewhere along the way with Hezbollah involved.


6 posted on 05/16/2026 10:38:22 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Cronos

Iran, back in late 2023, was trying to blackmail Europe by threatening to close the Strait of Gibraltar to marine traffic over Gaza:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12898071/Iran-threatens-close-Strait-Gibraltar-Mediterranean-Sea-unless-Israel-stops-bombing-Gaza-warns-Tehran-deeply-involved-attacks-shipping.html


7 posted on 05/16/2026 10:44:30 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Cronos
2. Why did they attack Modena rather than Marrakesh?

Did you know we’re riding on the Marakesh express? All aboard that train. 🤔

8 posted on 05/16/2026 10:45:38 PM PDT by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. 🎤 Father of USAF pilot. ✈️ Aviation is in our DNA)
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To: Cronos

From a previous posting, the driver is “Salim el Koudri, a 31-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan origin.”


9 posted on 05/16/2026 10:50:07 PM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: Cronos
I was stabbed twice, once in the heart and once in the head.

Pretty good trick, helping subdue the man after those wounds.

Perhaps bad translation.

10 posted on 05/16/2026 10:53:45 PM PDT by jimtorr
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To: aquila48
Salim el Koudri

Any relation to General Salami?



11 posted on 05/16/2026 10:55:33 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.)
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To: piasa

So you think it wasn’t jihadi but related to the Polisaro rebellion?


12 posted on 05/17/2026 1:08:33 AM PDT by Cronos (Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.)
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To: Cronos
Generally when you drag a madman terrorist out of his car and tackle him, it's best to stomp his head
with both your feet, and kick his teeth in. But don't bogart all the fun; let other bystanders join in too!

13 posted on 05/17/2026 1:49:56 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: Cronos

According to Il Giornale: El Koudri’s social media profiles have been closed, and investigators are looking into the reason: had he shared ‘dangerous’ content? Only his name can be seen, even though a small detail remains, a phrase thrown in there that could mean a lot. ‘I wish I could understand people’s grammar as I understand the letters of the Arabic language.’ It was written in his short Instagram biography.


14 posted on 05/17/2026 2:05:44 AM PDT by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
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To: aquila48
From a previous posting, the driver is “Salim el Koudri, a 31-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan origin.”

Sounds like a good Presbyterian name!

Sadly, the authorities will probably refuse to even only speculate about a possible motive, even if the assassin was screaming Islamist sh*t while being tackled by the heroes.

The authorities will undoubtedly refer to him as a "troubled" individual, and exhort the populace to refrain from recognizing any patterns.

A few months down the line, he will be quietly judged "incompetent to stand trial due to psychological disorders."

That poor lady whose legs were amputated by the crushing impact!

But "Diversity Is Our Strength!"

Regards,

15 posted on 05/17/2026 2:12:37 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Cronos

Time to start running over illegal immigrants and bombing mosque and then maybe Europe can get back on track. Of course electing reasonable politicians would help.


16 posted on 05/17/2026 3:55:01 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: Cronos

guess who?


17 posted on 05/17/2026 4:01:44 AM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: Cronos

YES. Mentally ill meditating murderers those MoFos.


18 posted on 05/17/2026 4:17:16 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization? )
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To: Cronos

“The psychiatric disorder is also called ISLAM”

…precisely. Don’t “treat” these animals as if they’re a little off and can be cured. Ship em back to their sh—hole with no chance of returning.


19 posted on 05/17/2026 5:09:41 AM PDT by albie
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To: Cronos

“ I don’t know what to call him.”

I do.

L


20 posted on 05/17/2026 5:13:39 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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