Eight people were reported to be injured on Saturday when a car drove into pedestrians in the centre of the Italian city of Modena, police and the city’s mayor said.
Police said they arrested the driver, a man in his thirties, and there was no further danger.
Among the injured, four people are in a serious condition, the city mayor, Massimo Mezzetti, told broadcaster RaiNews24.
The driver is an Italian national born in Bergamo, of North African origin, and a resident of the Modena area, the mayor added.
“It seems (the driver) deliberately drove onto the sidewalk, hitting several people and crashing into a shop window. He then got out of his car and brandished a knife,” said Mezzetti.
One man who tried to stop the driver suffered minor injuries, the mayor said.
A witness told RaiNews24 he heard people falling and threw himself to the ground as the car approached. He said the driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, though authorities have not confirmed this.
“I express my solidarity with those who were injured and their families,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on social media site X.
“What happened today in Modena, where a man ran over several pedestrians and then allegedly stabbed a passerby, is extremely serious.
“I express my closeness to the injured people and their families. I also extend my thanks to the citizens who bravely 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. I trust that the perpetrator will be held fully accountable for his actions.”
This is a developing story. More to follow.