Sky TG2452 minutes agoCrime1 min readItaly

Modena attack, El Koudri attempts suicide in prison. "It's not life threatening"

Quick Look

Salim El Koudri, the 31-year-old who hit eight people in the center of Modena on May 16, one of whom would later die, attempted suicide in prison by ingesting drugs.
He was taken to hospital and his life is not in danger.
On 2 October he appeared before the Court of Modena for the discussion of the psychiatric report which ascertained his capacity to understand and desire.

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Why It Matters

Salim El Koudri hit eight people in the center of Modena on May 16, causing the death of one person. He was already known to have followed a treatment path in a mental health center. On 2 October he appeared before the Court of Modena for the discussion of the psychiatric report.

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Salim El Koudri, the 31-year-old who hit eight people in the center of Modena on May 16, one of whom later died, attempted suicide in prison by ingesting some drugs. Taken to hospital, his life was not in danger. Only a few days ago, on October 2, he appeared for the first time in front of some of his victims at the Court of Modena, for the discussion of the psychiatric report which ascertained his capacity of understanding and will. He will have to answer for the crime of massacre.

Guarantor for prisoners: "Every 33 hours in Emilia-Romagna a prisoner tries to kill himself"

The Guarantor for prisoners in Emilia-Romagna, Roberto Cavalieri, underlines how "every 33 hours in this region a prisoner tries to kill himself", but the El Koudri episode is only mentioned because in this case "the prisoner is known". He therefore asks to "recognize their right to still be considered human, supporting them in moments of desperation", which "takes nothing away from their responsibility and the pain of the victims".

El Koudri's psychiatric report

El Koudri's defense focused on the declaration of incapacity of understanding and will, also because he had previously been treated in a mental health center. The psychiatric report, however, established that, at the time of the facts, he was fully capable of understanding and wanting: he had no mental illness capable of determining a total or partial mental defect. "The illicit conduct does not constitute the symptomatic expression of a mental disorder, but rather the outcome of an action motivated by frustration, resentment and demonstrative claims, implemented with operational clarity and preserved self-determination", according to the experts. There would be no connection between El Koudri's mental health problems and his action. The experts then point out in the suspect "traits of social avoidance, marked insecurity, rigidity of thought with a paranoid imprint", which however would be below the threshold compared to the criteria for mental disorders.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The Court of Modena will confirm the capacity of understanding and will of Salim El Koudri and will proceed with the trial for massacre.
Likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

What will be the final legal consequences for Salim El Koudri after the suicide attempt?
How will your detention be handled in light of your mental health issues?
What measures will be adopted to reduce the risk of suicide among prisoners in Emilia-Romagna?