President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited hospitals in Modena and Bologna on Sunday to meet victims of a vehicle-ramming attack.

The visits signal a high-level state response to a tragedy that has shocked the region, emphasizing national solidarity and gratitude toward first responders.

The leaders visited Hospital Baggiovara in Modena and the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna [1, 2]. They met with pedestrians injured during the attack, which occurred on May 16, 2026 [4]. The incident resulted in the deaths of eight pedestrians [1].

Among the survivors, four people remain in reserved prognosis, and one woman is in critical condition [2]. The leaders expressed their gratitude to the medical staff and the citizens who intervened to help victims during the chaos.

During the visit, Prime Minister Meloni praised a citizen for his bravery. "Eroe chi sceglie il bene anche se rischioso, grazie Luca," Meloni said [3].

President Mattarella also thanked the healthcare workers providing emergency care to the survivors. "Grazie per quello che fate," Mattarella said [3].

While the state focuses on the victims, the legal process for the perpetrator has begun. A legal representative for the attacker described the individual as "confuso e frastornato" — confused and bewildered [3].

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the driver's actions. The presence of both the head of state and the head of government at the bedside of the injured underscores the severity of the event and the government's intent to provide immediate institutional support to the affected cities.

“"Eroe chi sceglie il bene anche se rischioso, grazie Luca"”

The joint appearance of Italy's President and Prime Minister serves as a symbolic gesture of national unity following a mass-casualty event. By visiting both Modena and Bologna, the leadership is acknowledging the regional impact of the attack and validating the efforts of the emergency medical infrastructure. The legal defense's early claim of the attacker's mental state suggests a potential focus on psychiatric evaluation in the coming trial.