The attack in the centre of Modena disrupted the programme of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who cancelled her scheduled visit to Cyprus and remained in Italy.
Meloni’s visit to Nicosia had been planned for Sunday, aiming to further strengthen Cyprus–Italy relations, with discussions on energy, defence, security, migration and regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The incident in Modena forced the Italian Prime Minister to change her plans in order to travel to the area and be close to the injured and their families.
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the visit was postponed due to the need for Meloni’s immediate return to Italy following the serious incident. The Republic of Cyprus expressed its solidarity with the Italian government, the Italian people and all those affected, noting that the visit will be rescheduled at a later stage.
Meloni travelled to Modena together with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who wanted to personally visit the injured and express the state’s support to the local community. The Italian president publicly praised citizens who intervened with courage and helped apprehend the attacker before police arrived.
What happened
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon on a central street in Modena, when a car driven by 31‑year‑old Salim El Koundri mounted the pavement at high speed and struck pedestrians, causing panic. Eight people were injured, four of them seriously.
A 55‑year‑old woman remained in critical condition late on Sunday after being trapped between the vehicle and a shop window. Two injured individuals underwent amputations of lower limbs due to the severity of their injuries. Two other men, aged 52 and 69, remain in serious condition under constant medical monitoring.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with people running in panic, while several citizens attempted to stop the vehicle and restrain the driver. A passer‑by was injured while trying to prevent the suspect from escaping on foot after abandoning the car.
The suspect was arrested shortly afterwards and taken in for questioning. According to Italian media, he holds Italian nationality and is of Moroccan origin. He had studied economics in Italy and had previously received treatment for psychological issues, although he had no criminal record or prior convictions.
Italian prosecutors are investigating the exact motives of the attack and have already charged the suspect with the serious offence of “massacre” under Italian criminal law. Authorities are also examining video footage, witness testimonies and the suspect’s mental health history in an effort to determine what led to the incident.
