Reports of a school shooting in Vantaa, Finland – NRK Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

On Tuesday morning, a shooting was reported at a primary school in Vantaa, Finland, outside the capital Helsinki.

Police said in a press conference that a student had been confirmed dead. Two students were seriously injured.

Police confirmed that all the victims were shot dead.

A 12-year-old youth was arrested on suspicion of shooting. The suspect admitted to the shooting in preliminary interrogation, but police have not yet been able to say anything about the motive.

Police say the weapon used belonged to a relative of the suspect.

The 12-year-old, a student at the school, was never supposed to be in the spotlight of police or authorities before.

– This is a tragic day, the police said in a press conference.

Police say they were on the scene about nine minutes after receiving a report of the shooting.

– At the moment, there is no indication that there are more people involved, says Tommy Saluceria of the Finnish police.

Kimmo Hyvarinen says that several dozen people are now working to investigate the case.

– Since we are talking about a 12-year-old child, he is below the minimum criminal age. We still have to find out what happened here, Hivarinen also says.

Police are investigating the case as a murder and attempted murder.

Students at the school receive follow-up from the crisis team. Wednesday will also be a memorial service for school students.

Prime Minister: A very large number of young people are struggling

– The shooting incident in Vanda is shocking. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and with the students and staff of the Virtola School, signed by Prime Minister Petri Orbu X.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the government was asked whether security measures around schools should be tightened.

Education Minister Hinkson believes it is important to find out how the firearm ended up in the school, as well as evaluate measures that could prevent such incidents.

According to Prime Minister Urbo, the Finnish government places special emphasis on primary education.

– There are too many young people with mental health problems. We should be able to solve these problems early, he says.

The government informed that all public buildings will fly flags at half-mast on Wednesday.

Witness: He heard a terrible scream

a witness Iltalehti I spoke to her, saying she was startled by hearing a loud explosion nearby:

– I didn't realize it was a weapon. Then I heard a terrible scream and saw two children running, the witness told the newspaper.

Deputy Mayor Katri Kalski speaks howling The municipal crisis team has been notified.

Police received a report of the shooting at 08.08 Norwegian time.

Shortly after 9 a.m., police announced the arrest of one person. The arrest went smoothly, and police confiscated a firearm from the suspect.

All participants are 12 years old. Police initially wrote they were 13, but later corrected this.

The police asked people to stay away from the area, and also asked residents not to open the door to strangers. They also surrounded the school campus.

Reports say that at 11:37 Norwegian time, students began being allowed out of school howling.

Hiding in school

says manager Sari Lassila Elta Sanomat The students and staff hid inside the school while awaiting further instructions from the police.

At 09.45 the principal announces that the immediate danger to the school has passed.

According to the school, there are 800 students Helsingin Sanomat.

According to Finnish national broadcaster Yle, about 90 people work at the school.

Previous school shootings

There have been several fatal school shootings in Finland in the past.

At a university in Kauhayuki in September 2008, a student shot and killed ten people before committing suicide.

Also in November 2007, a shooting occurred at a school and then at a high school in Jokela. Then an 18-year-old man killed eight people before committing suicide.

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.