HELSINKI, FINLAND – A tragic incident unfolded at a school located just outside of Helsinki, where one child lost their life and two others were seriously injured in a shooting. Shockingly, the suspected perpetrator is believed to be a 12-year-old fellow pupil who has been taken into police custody. The arrest of the young boy, which occurred without further violence, took place in the Helsinki suburb of Siltamaki, approximately 4 km south of the Viertola school in Vantaa district.
The Education Minister, Anna-Maja Henriksson, was visibly emotional as she addressed the media following the devastating attack, expressing profound sorrow over the loss of a young life. She emphasized the rarity of gun violence among youths in a country like Finland. As a day of mourning is set to take place on Wednesday, government buildings will fly the flag at half-mast as a mark of respect for the victims of this senseless act.
Authorities have confirmed that there are no other suspects in connection with the incident. Details about the identities of the suspect and victims have been kept confidential, although it has been disclosed that all individuals involved were 12-year-old students at the school. The two survivors are currently receiving medical treatment for their serious injuries at the Helsinki regional hospital district.
With the community grappling with shock and grief, parents anxiously awaited to reunite with their children outside the school, where emotional embraces and tears painted a somber picture. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo conveyed his deep shock over the incident and urged parents to comfort their children, reassuring them that every possible measure is being taken to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
The suspect, who has reportedly admitted to the attack during preliminary questioning, is facing charges of murder and attempted murder. Due to his age, he will be placed in the care of social services. Although the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, authorities have disclosed that the gun used in the attack belonged to a relative of the suspect.
Previous school shootings in Finland have prompted discussions around the nation’s gun policies. In response to past tragedies, Finland implemented stricter gun legislation in 2010, including an aptitude test for firearms license applicants and raising the minimum age for applicants to 20. However, it is still too early to draw conclusions about policy changes following this recent incident. Finland boasts over 1.5 million licensed firearms and approximately 430,000 license holders in a country of 5.6 million people, where hunting and target shooting are popular activities.