(DPA)
A man drove a car into a crowd in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, four of them seriously, the mayor said.
The motive for the incident remains unclear, Mayor Massimo Mezzetti said, adding he was "deeply shaken” by what he described as a "mad incident.”
The attack occurred in the afternoon in Modena’s historic centre, where the vehicle sped into a street in the old town.
According to the mayor, the driver deliberately mounted the pavement at high speed and struck a group of pedestrians.
The suspect then attempted to flee, leaving the car while holding a knife, several witnesses reported.
Bystanders pursued the man and managed to overpower him. "They showed great courage; they have my thanks,” Mezzetti said.
Local media said the suspect is a man in his 30s. He has been detained and is to be questioned by police.
Mezzetti said further details about the background of the incident would be provided later.