On 16 May, Salim El Koudri drove his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians in the historic centre of Modena, killing a woman and wounding seven others. The incident, reported by local dailies Resto del Carlino di Modena and Il Giornale, prompted a criminal investigation for mass murder, though prosecutors have not yet charged him with premeditation or a terrorist aggravating factor.
Technical analysts from the Digos units in Modena and Bologna have completed a forensic review of the suspect’s digital devices. The examination, described as “irripetibili” (non‑repeatable) in the report, revealed a pattern of online activity spanning the past five years that included dozens of searches on the Islamic State and Osama Bin Laden, as well as Wikipedia queries about past European massacres and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
In addition to the search history, investigators found a series of self‑recorded videos in which El Koudri delivers disjointed, delirious statements. One of the videos, highlighted by the newspaper La Verità and slated for broadcast on the TV programme “Fuori dal coro,” shows the attacker shaving his beard only a few hours before the May 16 assault.
The forensic team also uncovered thousands of e‑mail messages that the suspect sent to local companies, falsely presenting himself as a job applicant, and a large number of online job‑application forms completed on regional business websites. These communications suggest an attempt to fabricate a normal employment profile while planning the attack.
Authorities have not identified any direct links between El Koudri and extremist groups or known suspects. The Digos continues to monitor his contacts and financial transactions while awaiting the results of a psychiatric evaluation, which is expected to be filed by the end of the month.
The emerging digital evidence adds a complex layer to the investigation, raising questions about the role of online extremist propaganda in motivating lone‑actor attacks and the challenges of distinguishing genuine radicalisation from personal pathology.