On Tuesday morning, a shooting incident was reported at a primary school in Vantaa in Finland, just outside the capital Helsinki.
A student has been confirmed dead, the police said at a press conference. Two students are seriously injured.
All the victims were shot, police confirm.
A 12-year-old has been arrested, suspected of the shooting. The suspect has admitted to the shooting in an initial questioning, but the police cannot yet say anything about a motive.
Many candles are lit and flowers laid at the school.
Photo: RONI REKOMAA / AFP
– It was clearly not enough
In an interview with Finnish Yle says police director Sanna Heikinheimo that they will work to prevent something like this from happening again.
– It is clear that a lot has gone wrong when we are unable to offer our children a safe schooling. The incident and the surrounding circumstances will be thoroughly investigated and clarified, she says.
After several fatal school shootings in the 2000s in Finland, the authorities and the police took several measures to prevent it from happening again, she points out further.
– It was clearly not enough, says Heikinheimo.
The children involved must have all been in the same class at school, writes Evening News.
The police in action at the school.
Photo: Markku Ulander / Reuters
Probably used a revolver
Finnish media write that the 12-year-old used a registered handgun that was owned by a close relative.
A weapons expert Evening newspaper have spoken to say it is likely a .22 caliber revolver, based on photos taken of the arrest.
Weapons specialist and former crime technician in Kripos, Leif Øren, has seen the images of the arrest where the weapon is also shown.
– The images of the firearm are very blurry and it is difficult to see details. One can see, however, that it is a medium-sized revolver in caliber .22 Long Rifle, he says.
This means that it is a weapon with a lower damage potential than ordinary pistols, and that it can probably only have fired up to six shots.
A witness to the arrest tells the newspaper that it went smoothly, and that the twelve-year-old did not behave threateningly. They were surprised at how young he looked.
– It was in no way a teenager, but a child, says the witness.
The school is located in Vantaa, just outside the capital Helsinki.
– Tragic day
Those involved in the shooting incident are all sixth-graders, the police say.
– One of the victims died at the scene. Two of the victims were hospitalized. The injuries to both victims are very serious, says investigative leader Marko Särkkä in an update at 4pm on Tuesday.
The 12-year-old, who is a student at the school, should not have been in the spotlight of the police or the authorities before.
– This is a tragic day, the police said at a press conference earlier on Tuesday.
Pupils were released from the school a few hours after the shooting.
Photo: Jani Saikko / Yle
Investigated as murder and attempted murder
The Finnish police have carried out technical investigations at the school. The investigation continues over the next few days with questioning of those involved and witnesses.
– The police are investigating, among other things, the motive for the act and the reasons behind it, says Särkkä.
The police are investigating the case as murder and attempted murder.
They say they were there around nine minutes after they received a report of the shooting.
– At the moment, there is nothing to indicate that there are more people involved, says Tomi Salosyrjä from the Finnish police.
Several tens of people are now working to investigate the case, says Kimmo Hyvärinen.
– Since we are talking about a 12-year-old, he is under the criminal minimum age. We still have to find out what has happened here, says Hyvärinen further.
Relatives and the media gathered around the school on Tuesday morning.
Photo: Jani Saikko / Yle
The students at the school receive follow-up from the crisis team. On Wednesday, there will also be a memorial service for the school’s students.
In the aftermath of the school tragedy, many from the local population have shown their support for the victims by lighting candles near the school.
Several have also gathered in the local church in the town.
Many have lit candles near the school after the school shooting.
Photo: RONI REKOMAA / AFP
The Prime Minister: – far too many young people who are struggling
– The shooting incident in Vanda is shocking. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and with students and staff at Viertola school, signed Prime Minister Petteri Orpo X.
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the government was asked about security in schools.
Education Minister Anna-Maja Henksson believes it is important to find out how the firearm ended up in the school, as well as assess what measures can prevent such incidents.
According to Prime Minister Orpo, the Finnish government has a special focus on primary education.
– There are far too many young people struggling with mental health problems. We must be able to solve these problems earlier, he says.
The government informed that state agencies and institutions will fly flags at half-mast on Wednesday.
Several family members of students and staff have turned up at the school, hoping to get more information about the shooting incident.
Photo: Markku Ulander / AFP
Witness: – Heard terrible screaming
A witness Evening newspaper has spoken to, says that she was startled by a loud bang nearby:
– I didn’t realize it was from a weapon. Then I heard terrible screaming and saw a couple of children running, says the witness to the newspaper.
Deputy mayor Katri Kalske speaks Yle that the municipality’s crisis team has been notified.
The police received a report of the shooting at 08.08 Norwegian time.
Just after 9 o’clock, the police announced that one person had been arrested. The arrest went smoothly, and the police seized a firearm from the suspect.
The police have asked people to stay away from the area, and are also asking residents not to open the door to strangers. They have also cordoned off the school grounds.
At 11.37 Norwegian, some students were allowed to leave the school, reports say Yle.
There are approximately 800 pupils and 90 staff at the school.
Photo: Jani Saikko / Yle
Hiding at school
Principal Sari Laasila says Evening News that pupils and staff hid inside the school, while they waited for further instructions from the police.
At 09.45 the principal announces that the immediate danger at the school is over.
According to the school, there are 800 students Helsingin sanomat newspaper.
The Finnish national broadcaster Yle writes that there are around 90 employees at the school.
Photo: Markku Ulander / AFP
Previous school shootings
There have been several fatal school shootings in Finland in the past.
At a university in Kauhajoki in September 2008, a student shot and killed ten people before taking his own life.
Also in November 2007 there was a school shooting, then at a high school in Jokela. Then an 18-year-old man killed eight people before taking his own life.
Before these two incidents, no one had been killed in a school shooting in the country since 1989, when a 14-year-old shot and killed two fellow students at a school in Rauma.
Published 02/04/2024, at 08.58 Updated 02.04.2024, at 20.51