At least two people have been left with life-threatening injuries after a car ploughed into pedestrians in an Italian city.

A car believed to have been driven by a man in his 30s drove through victims on Via Emilia Centro in Modena, northern Italy, at around 4.30pm.

Seven people were reportedly injured and two were left in a critical condition, with one woman likely needing a double amputation after she was crushed against a shop window by the car.

The injured pedestrians were taken to three different hospitals – two were airlifted to Maggiore hospital in Bologna for treatment.

Police arrested the driver and said there was no further danger.

Italian media said the car crashed into the shop window after it hit the pedestrians and that the driver tried to stab a passer-by who tried to stop him.

Modena’s mayor Massimo Mezzetti said he had heard the driver had North African origins.

He said: ‘It is not known whether he acted under the influence of substances or whether he committed this act deliberately.

A car was pictured with its front end crushed in a Modena street on Saturday after it reportedly mowed down pedestrians and ploughed into a shop window

A mangled bike lay near the car – a witness said the driver aimed at the pavement and hit a bicycle

Modena’s mayor Massimo Mezzetti suggested the driver was of North African origin and said he was in police custody

‘Fortunately, there were no deaths, but seven people were injured, two of them seriously.’

‘One woman will likely have to have both legs amputated: she was the person who was crushed against the shop window.

‘I have no details on the identity of the man who was driving the car although some witnesses told me he was of North African origin.’

Italian media also said the car hit a bicycle before crashing into the shop window – the man then left the car with a weapon and reportedly ‘tried to hit someone’ but was unsuccessful. 

Reports on social media suggested the car was driving at around 100kph (62mph) and that four or five people chased the driver and helped police capture him.

Mr Mezzetti said he wanted to ‘thank these citizens’, adding: ‘The man was also armed with a knife, they had courage and great civic sense. My strong thanks go to them at this dramatic moment.’