Monica Esposito dies after two months following Modena attack

Monica Esposito, 55, was seriously injured on 16 May 2026 when a car driven by Salim El Koudri struck pedestrians in the centre of Modena. She was taken to intensive care, first at the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna and later at the Civil Hospital in Baggiovara, where she remained unconscious for over two months. On 22 July 2026 she died after 67 days without regaining consciousness.

The city of Modena declared an official day of mourning; Mayor Massimo Mezzetti expressed condolences and announced the municipal mourning proclamation for the day of the funeral. A vigil was held in Modena Cathedral, attended by the archbishop and local officials. The family approved organ donation. El Koudri is held in preventive custody and is being investigated under article 422 of the Italian penal code, which covers acts intended to endanger public safety. The incident injured several others, including a 69‑year‑old German tourist who suffered bilateral leg amputations.