A 31-year-old driver ploughed a Citroën C3 into crowds on Via Emilia in central Modena on Saturday, May 16, striking at least ten people before smashing into a shop front. Police have confirmed seven individuals suffered injuries, with four in serious condition and one woman losing both legs in the violent episode. People pursued the suspect on foot after he abandoned his car and attempted to stab a passer-by who tried to stop him.

High-speed impact shocks local residents

People in the area saw the car accelerate rapidly towards the pavement in a pedestrian zone. Witnesses recalled the vehicle reaching speeds estimated at 80 kilometres per hour, sending victims flying and sparking immediate panic. The driver, originally from Seriate near Bergamo and with Tunisian roots, continued his path until the collision with the shopfront. He then fled the scene on foot through the historic centre, raising fear levels among bystanders.

Citizens help with quick arrests

Several locals joined forces to chase and restrain the man until police arrived. Modena mayor Massimo Mezzetti publicly thanked those who intervened, thanking them for their bravery during the chaotic moments. Officers from the Carabinieri, state police, and Guardia di Finanza responded rapidly, cordoning off the street with red and white tape while emergency teams treated the wounded on site. Paramedics transported victims to regional hospitals, including Maggiore in Bologna.

Background of suspect under scrutiny

Investigators question the detained man, who sustained injuries in the crash himself, at a local station. Records show he holds Italian citizenship, possesses no prior criminal history, and drove the small hatchback. Police continue to examine all possible explanations for the event, ranging from a traffic accident to deliberate action, without confirming any precise motive so far.

Community reacts to tragic events

Mezzetti described the episode as deeply disturbing and called for full clarity on what occurred. Emergency services maintained a strong presence in the area for hours afterwards to manage the scene and gather evidence. This incident has left residents in the northern Italian city shaken, with questions lingering about safety in popular urban zones.

Medical updates indicate varying degrees of harm among those struck, including a cyclist caught in the initial impact. Local media outlets report ongoing efforts to reconstruct the sequence using CCTV and statements from those present.

Wider questions arise from Modena events

Italian authorities focus on piecing together timelines from multiple sources to understand the full picture. The episode draws attention to risks in crowded city streets and the role of rapid public response in such crises. As details develop, Modena officials stress support for affected families while ensuring thorough probes proceed.

Cartagena held a major celebration on Saturday, May 16, in Los Juncos Park, with their Family Day workshop. The activity was a chance for children, young people, parents, and grandparents to get together and enjoy a variety of leisure activities, fostering both participation, healthy activity, and coexistence among neighbours.

A celebration that brought young people, parents, and grandparents together in Los Juncos Park

During the Family Day celebration, attendees enjoyed a mobile disco, a family photobooth, a car circuit, games, and workshops, including for makeup, canvas-painting, and badge-making. The initiative was also aimed at helping families through various programmes and resources. The Cartagena City Council had set up an information tent to make resources available for children, adolescents, and families. 

One of the main focuses of the day was to continue promoting the need for policies to help families and facilitate a work-life balance, with measures that improve well-being in the municipality and help families financially.

Aid to families: How Cartagena helps struggling parents with financial aid and free programmes

Additionally, it was noted that Cartagena has more than 1,000 available free slots in municipal nursery schools, helping families save more than €500,000 a year and making it easier for parents to balance their work and family life.

The Cartagena City Council, during the event, also informed attendees of the direct maternity aid promoted by the city’s officials, as well as the family respite programmes, and the home help and care programmes for those dependent on it.

Social groups participate in the event

During the event, a variety of social entities and groups that work in favour of child protection, inclusion, and family support participated. It was a day that fostered inclusion and connecting as a community, as well as promoting work-life balance, equal opportunities for all, and support for struggling households in the municipality.

After several weeks of testing, the new LED lighting of Lorca Castle has finally been unveiled. The Lorca Castle, also known as the Fortaleza del Sol, or Fortress of the Sun, is one of the most important heritage landmarks not only in Lorca, but in the entire Region of Murcia, and this lighting represents an investment of more than €300,000.

A project that will let visitors see the Castle, even in the dead of night

The project aims to enhance the cultural, tourist, and emotional value of this castle, which has become one of the most beloved places in the municipality. In addition to boosting the economic value of the area, the LED lights are also set to save money and energy, making it a more sustainable choice for the structure.

To be specific, the project achieves energy savings of 75 per cent compared to the previous installation, and also includes an intelligent control system that will allow operators to manage each light fixture individually. With this technology, operators will be able to program lighting scenes, adapt colors and intensities for celebrations and special events, as well as control lighting much more efficiently and minimise light pollution.

These lights will allow for a more spectacular nighttime view of the Castle of Lorca and make the ancient structure a major visual attraction, from numerous places in the municipality. Officials are hoping it will consolidate the fortress as one of the great nighttime tourist attractions in the entire southeastern region of Spain.

Lorca Castle: A medieval point of cultural interest in the southeast of Spain

One of the largest castles in Spain, the Castle of Lorca is a medieval fortress constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It boasts a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula. It has also been listed as a Site of Cultural Interest. Today, it is one of the shining hotspots of the Region of Murcia, and is visited by tens of thousands of people a year.