Former Inter Milan favourite Massimo Tarantino was reportedly one of the people who helped disarm and detain the attacker who stabbed Arsenal defender Pablo Mari and five others in Italy on Thursday evening.
A 46-year-old man, who was later arrested at the scene, is believed to have started attacking people at random after picking up a knife from the shelves of a Carrefour. It has since been confirmed that one man - a cashier at the supermarket - died from injuries sustained in the attack.
All the victims were airlifted to hospital, where it was later confirmed that Mari is not in a serious condition. And as fresh details of the incident continue to emerge, it has now been revealed that Tarantino was one of the people who helped stop the attacker.
Various reports have outlined that a number of brave customers helped to detain the attacker until the police arrived. Tarantino is quoted by Italian publication Corriere della Sera as saying: "I'm not a hero. I didn't do anything special."
Tarantino is well known in Italy and starred for various Italian clubs, including Napoli, during a playing career that spanned almost two decades. The 51-year-old, who used to play as a defender, clocked up over 200 Serie A appearances during stints at Napoli and Bologna before hanging up his boots. He is currently the technical director of Serie B outfit SPAL.
Mari, who was shopping with his wife and son at the time of the incident, is due to undergo surgery on Friday after suffering a deep cut to his back during the attack.
The Spaniard is currently on loan at Monza and was visited by club CEO Adriano Galliani and coach Raffaele Palladino in hospital after the incident. He was quoted by Gazzetta Dello Sport as telling the duo: "I was with the trolley with my child inside and I felt an excruciating pain in my back. Then that man stabbed another in the throat.
"I had suerte [luck]. I saw a person die in front of me."
Galliani himself also commented on the incident and confirmed that a cashier at the supermarket died in the attack. Speaking to TG2, he said: "Unfortunately, I received terrible news, the store cashier died."
He also issued an update on Mari. He added: "As for Pablo Marì he had a fairly deep wound on his back, a penetrating one, which however did not touch vital organs such as lungs or others. His life is not in danger. He certainly has problems but he should recover quickly despite some injured muscles."
Mari has made eight appearances for the Serie A outfit and has scored one goal so far this campaign following his loan switch from Arsenal.
