A man drove his car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena on Saturday, injuring eight people, four seriously, officials said. They included a woman who had to have both her legs amputated. After the car came to a halt against a shop window, the driver emerged holding a knife and injured a passer-by who had given chase before the suspect was overpowered. The suspect, 31, has been identified as an Italian national of Moroccan origin. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who canceled a planned trip to Cyprus, described the incident as 'extremely serious' and visited the injured in hospital alongside President Sergio Mattarella. She also met Luca Signorelli, the passer-by who intervened, thanking him for his courageous actions. The incident occurred around 16:30 (14:30 GMT) when the speeding car struck pedestrians in Via Emilia next to Modena's cathedral. The driver reportedly accelerated before veering off and crashing into a shop. Eyewitness accounts describe the terrifying scene as people were struck by the vehicle traveling at high speed, estimated at 100 km/h (62 mph). The mayor of Modena stated the driver appeared to have intentionally targeted pedestrians. Following the event, a mental health history of the suspect came to light, revealing he had been referred to a center in 2022 for issues concerning 'schizoid disorders.'