In Vantaa, north of Helsinki, a 12-year-old suspect opened fire and injured three children of the same age at a school that serves around 800 students between the ages of 7 and 15. The shootings took place at approximately 9 a.m. local time.
The police were called to the scene and the suspect was arrested peacefully in Helsinki around 10 a.m. The suspect, as well as the three injured children, were all 12 years old.
A video was released showing the police officers holding down the suspect during the arrest. Parents of students at the school were able to speak to their children over the phone, and students were kept in their classrooms while parents were cared for by police officers.
A crisis unit has been established by both the school and municipality to manage this situation. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen expressed her sympathy for those affected by this incident and acknowledged the shock felt across the country due to this shooting at Viertola school in Vantaa. This is not an isolated incident as Finland has experienced similar tragedies in early 2000s.
