Arsenal's Pablo Mari has been stabbed in a frenzied attack on six people in a supermarket with one victim dying from their injuries.
The shocking incident occurred in a Carrefour near Milan, Italy this Thursday. All of the victims were airlifted to hospital, where a man in his 30s passed away. Three other people are in serious condition. Mari was punched in the face before being stabbed in the back, suffering a deep cut. He will need surgery for the wound and has already received stitches for his lip, but is otherwise OK.
A 46-year-old man is believed to have taken a knife from the shelves of the store and began stabbing people inside. Customers are said to have bravely intervened to stop the attacker in the Milanofiori di Assago shopping centre at around 5.30pm. He has since been arrested and taken into police custody.
Mari has since told Monza chiefs, where he is currently on loan, that he was shopping with his wife and son when the attack occurred. The Serie A side's CEO Adriano Galliani and coach Raffaele Palladino rushed to the hospital after the incident.
Mari is quoted as saying to Galliani and Palladino: "I was lucky, because I saw a person die in front of me.
"I had the trolley, with the baby inside. I felt excruciating pain in my back. After that I saw this man stab a person in the throat, in front of me. I'm fine, I'll be on the field on Monday."
Galliani added: "Unfortunately, I received terrible news, the store cashier died. I have spoken to Pablo, he is conscious. He told me about this incredible incident. He had his son in his trolley and his wife next to him. He did not notice anything.
"He then felt something painful in his back, which was the criminal's knife. I imagine he was saved by his height because he was struck on the shoulder.
"Unfortunately he also saw the criminal stab someone in the throat. He saw everything that happened and it was deeply disturbing."
Regarding his condition, Galliani said: "Pablo Mari has quite a deep cut to his back, but fortunately it did not reach any vital organs like the lungs or anything else. His life is not in danger, he should recover quickly. He has some lesions, but not very serious."
An eye-witness told La Repubblica: "We were at the bar and we thought it was a robbery because we saw some boys and a lady running, then we saw more and more people with upset faces and we realised that something serious had happened."
Mari's father spoke to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope after talking with his son. He said: "These have been very worrying hours for us. They started calling me at 8pm and my heart has skipped a beat.
"Veronica (the footballer's partner) has not told us how it happened, but she has told us that she has seen a person die in front of her. She has reassured us confirming that they are fine and that everything has been a fright for them."
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta confirmed Arsenal chief Edu has been in contact with Mari's relatives. He said, following defeat in the Europa League: "I just found out. I know Edu has been in touch with his relatives. He's in hospital but he seems to be okay."
A statement on Arsenal's website read: "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.
"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."
A Monza statement read: "Pablo Mari has quite a deep cut to his back, but fortunately it did not reach any vital organs like the lungs or anything else. His life is not in danger, he should recover quickly. He has some lesions, but not very serious. He is conscious and getting stitches."
Mari is currently on loan from Arsenal at Italian club Monza. Club CEO Adriano Galliani and coach Raffaele Palladino are said to have raced to be by the defender's side.
A statement from Galliani posted on Monza's Twitter page read: "Dear Pablo, we are all here close to you and your family, we love you, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon."
Mari has made eight appearances for the Serie A outfit and has scored one goal so far this campaign.
The 29-year-old recently spoke out about the job Arteta is doing back home in London with his parent club Arsenal top of the Premier League.
In an interview with AS, he said: "He is a coach who has changed my vision of football. I have done a two-year masterclass with him.
"Yes, of course [I am watching Arsenal], they are at a stratospheric level. For me, the key has been a word called time. It doesn't surprise me because it was clear that their way of working would give them a lot of joy."
