The 31-year-old man who rammed his car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena has been charged with “multiple acts of violence” but not terrorism, according to Italian media reports on Tuesday, May 19th.
The incident took place on Saturday and left eight people injured, four of them seriously. No fatalities were reported. Among the victims was a woman who had to undergo the amputation of both legs after the vehicle crashed into a group of pedestrians before eventually stopping when it hit a shop window.
The suspect, an Italian national of Moroccan heritage, had a documented history of mental health issues. Italy’s interior ministry pointed to a “psychiatric” element in his actions, noting that he had previously been treated for a schizoid personality disorder.
However, legal proceedings suggest a more complex assessment. Lawyer Fausto Gianelli stated that prosecutors were not seeking
either the aggravating circumstance of terrorism nor premeditation.
At the same time, Italian media reported that the investigating judge found no evidence that the attack was directly caused by the suspect’s mental health condition.
The judge also indicated there was no sign that the driver was unable to understand or control his actions at the time of the attack.
Following the attack, the suspect attempted to flee but was pursued and stopped by passers-by. During the confrontation, he reportedly pulled a knife and injured one further individual.
