Modena, July 28, 2026 – Today is a day of pain and silence. It is the day of flags at half-mast and an embrace of two communities around a family that has been brutally torn away from a mother, a wife, a friend. In Modena and Nonantola, a city mourning has been declared for the funeral of Monica Esposito, the 55-year-old who died following the attack on May 16.
The coffin of Monica Esposito, covered with roses and sunflowers, was received with a long applause upon arrival at the abbey of Nonantola, where the funeral is being held this morning. At least a thousand citizens were present, along with representatives of the police forces: the police chief, mobile squad, and DIGOS with their respective leaders – who are handling the investigation of the attack – carabinieri, finance police, local police. Also present were the mayors of Modena, Nonantola, and Ravarino, as well as Modena’s deputy mayor Francesca Maletti, councilor Federica Venturelli, Gian Carlo Muzzarelli, and former senator Carlo Giovanardi.
Flags at half-mast and suspended events
The mayors of the respective municipalities, Massimo Mezzetti and Tiziana Baccolini, ordered flags at half-mast and draped in mourning, and suspension of all events organized by the administrations.
A way to join the pain of the family members and express the deep condolences of the cities of Modena, where the serious incident occurred, and Nonantola, where Monica lived, and their respective city councils. The funeral will be held at the Abbey of Nonantola: the funeral procession will depart this morning at 10:30 from the mortuary chambers of the Policlinico.
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Died after two months of agony
“I have a thought that speaks of you, everything dies but you are the dearest thing I have” is the phrase chosen by the family in memory of Monica, who died after two months of agony in the intensive care bed at Baggiovara. Yesterday many people, family members, friends, and Modenese went to the mortuary for a farewell, a gesture of closeness, a prayer for Monica and her family.
The mayor: “Modena will never forget what happened on May 16”
“The city mourning is the heartfelt expression of this city and all the people of Modena for the great pain that the family of Monica Esposito is experiencing – declared Mayor Massimo Mezzetti –, Modena stands by them and will never forget what happened on May 16, the attack that so harshly struck this family and caused irreversible wounds to other people who were unknowingly walking on a spring Saturday.” “As the Municipality of Modena – he concluded – we will continue to demand full justice against those responsible for this terrible crime, respecting the law and the memory of those who were killed, like Monica, and injured.” In the ordinance proclaiming the city mourning, the mayor also invites all citizens, public institutions, social, cultural, and productive organizations, as well as owners of commercial and craft businesses in the city of Modena to express their adherence to the city mourning through autonomous forms of participation. The mayor and a delegation from the council will attend the funeral.
Mourning in Nonantola
The passing of Monica also deeply affected the community of Nonantola; for this reason, the mayor deemed it necessary to also institutionally express the condolences of the Administration and the community of Nonantola, showing closeness to the family of the deceased fellow citizen and likewise decreeing city mourning. “We are already receiving messages of support from merchants and business owners,” Mayor Baccolini emphasized yesterday. Everyone will stop today for Monica, therefore, to remember her and to embrace a family shattered by grief after Salim El Koudri, on May 16, drove his car into the crowd, causing the death of the 55-year-old after more than sixty days of agony and seriously injuring seven others. The woman’s family, in memory of Monica, has started a fundraising campaign for the intensive care unit of the Maggiore hospital in Bologna. A gesture of thanks to the healthcare staff who, since the day of the attack, have cared for Monica and her husband Angelo Ciccarelli, still in treatment but safe after the serious injuries sustained.
