Advertisement

Pablo Mari among five people stabbed in Milan supermarket attack

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Pablo Mari, pictured here in action for AC Monza.
Pablo Mari is in hospital after being stabbed in a supermarket in Milan. Image: AAP/Getty

The football world has been left horrified after Arsenal star Pablo Mari was among five people stabbed in an attack inside a Milan supermarket that left one person dead.

A man armed with a knife stabbed five people on Thursday inside a shopping centre south of the Italian city of Milan, killing one person.

'ROBBERY': Sam Kerr falls short in awards as football fans erupt

DRAMA: Kylian Mbappe rumours sends football world into frenzy

According to news agency LaPresse, police have arrested a 46-year-old Italian man suspected in the attack.

Spanish footballer Mari, who is on loan from Arsenal at the Italian Serie A club Monza, was among those wounded in the attack.

The ANSA news agency reported that a supermarket employee died en route to hospital after being stabbed.

The motive for the attacks is unknown. Italian authorities said there were no elements to suggest terrorism.

Witnesses told ANSA they saw people fleeing the supermarket in shock, and as the gravity of the situation became clear, shop workers pulled down the store's shutters.

Emergency personnel, pictured here wheeling an injured person at the scene of an attack in Milan.
Emergency personnel wheel an injured person at the scene of an attack in Milan. (LaPresse via AP)

The Carrefour supermarket chain said police and ambulance crews responded immediately to calls alerting them about the attack.

The chain expressed its sympathies to employees and clients affected by the attack and said it was offering them psychological support.

Sky Italy said it understood the 29-year-old Mari was conscious and that Monza manager Raffaele Palladino was set to visit him in hospital on Thursday evening.

An injured person on a stretcher, pictured here at the scene of the attack.
An injured person on a stretcher at the scene of the attack. (LaPresse via AP)

Football world reacts to 'dreadful' news about Mari

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Mari "seems to be OK" and confirmed the defender is in hospital.

"I know [club technical director] Edu has been in touch with his relatives," said Arteta after Thursday's 2-0 defeat at PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.

"He is in hospital. He seems to be okay. I will get a briefing now about what happened."

Arsenal issued a club statement, saying: "We are all shocked to hear the dreadful news about the stabbing in Italy, which has put a number of people in hospital including our on-loan centre-back Pablo Mari.

Pablo Mari, pictured here in action for AC Monza against AC MIlan.
Pablo Mari in action for AC Monza against AC MIlan. (Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

"We have been in contact with Pablo's agent who has told us he's in hospital and is not seriously hurt.

"Our thoughts are with Pablo and the other victims of this dreadful incident."

Monza CEO Adriano Galliani said: "Pablo Mari is not in danger as his injuries are not life-threatening. We hope to see him back soon."

Mari has made eight appearances for Monza in Serie A this season, scoring one goal.

He joined Arsenal from Flamengo in 2020, but has made just 12 appearances in the Premier League.

He has also been loaned to Udinese and Monza this year for a combined 23 games in Serie A, scoring three goals.

Fans and commentators also took to social media to express their disbelief and horror.

with agencies

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.