MODENA — A 31-year-old man drove into pedestrians before crashing into a shop window in Modena on Saturday, wounding eight people, four of them critically. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said investigators have ruled out a terrorism motive for the attack.

After the crash, the suspect attempted to flee and slightly wounded a bystander with a knife before being overpowered by passersby and detained by police. Prosecutors arrested the suspect, identified as Salim El Koudri, on charges including massacre and aggravated injury. A court hearing on whether to validate his detention was postponed to Tuesday morning.

The suspect is an Italian citizen of Moroccan descent. Local authorities said he was born in Italy, is university-educated, had been diagnosed with a personality disorder and had shown frustration over his work and social condition. Officials said he underwent treatment in 2022 for what they described as a schizoid disorder before dropping out of care.

"At this stage, there are no elements that correspond to the classic profile of a terrorist who plans violent actions," Piantedosi said. "But all this cannot lead us to dismiss the attack as the act of an isolated madman." He said investigators must fully examine factors behind the attack, suggesting social marginalization and perceived discrimination might have played a role.

Piantedosi stressed the suspect's Italian citizenship while drawing a distinction between the attack and the government's migration policies, noting that Italian citizenship does not guarantee successful integration. He noted an email the suspect sent to his university containing insulting language against Christians before later apologizing. "He may have been driven by resentment linked to a sense of having suffered discrimination," he said.

Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini referred to the suspect as a "second-generation criminal" in a social post and renewed calls for stricter migration measures. "Even before the responsibilities and circumstances surrounding the incident had emerged, the deputy premier (Salvini) transformed a dramatic episode into an anti-immigrant rally," said Carlo Calenda, leader of opposition party Azione.

Thousands of residents gathered in Modena's central Piazza Grande over the weekend in a show of solidarity with the victims. A woman remains in life-threatening condition after the crash, and other victims sustained severe injuries. Investigators are still working to establish the full motive.