HELSINKI. A somber atmosphere enveloped Finland as one child lost their life and two others sustained serious injuries in a school shooting outside the capital city of Helsinki on Tuesday. Authorities swiftly took a 12-year-old fellow pupil into custody as the suspected perpetrator of the attack.
The arrest of the young suspect occurred without further violence in the Helsinki suburb of Siltamaki, approximately 4 km south of the Viertola school in the Vantaa district, according to police reports.
Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson struggled to hold back tears as she addressed reporters, lamenting the loss of a young life. “One 12-year-old child will never again return home from school,” she expressed.
The nation mourns the tragic incident, with a national day of mourning declared for Wednesday. Government buildings will fly flags at half-mast as a mark of respect, announced the interior ministry.
Police confirmed that all involved, including the suspect and victims, were 12-year-old Finnish pupils at the Viertola school. The surviving victims are currently undergoing treatment for serious injuries at the Helsinki regional hospital district.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo expressed deep shock over the shooting and urged parents to comfort their children amid fears of further attacks. “The Finnish authorities and school staff are doing everything they can every day to prevent something like this from happening,” Orpo assured in a statement.
The suspect, according to police, has confessed to the attack during preliminary questioning. Investigations are underway, with charges likely to include murder and attempted murder.
While the motive remains unclear, police revealed that the handgun used in the attack belonged to a relative of the suspect.
Distressing images circulated on social media showed police attending to the suspected shooter, who was lying face down on a sidewalk. The Viertola school, which accommodates around 800 pupils and employs a staff of 90, has been deeply shaken by the incident.
Anja Hietamies, the mother of an 11-year-old pupil, recounted receiving a message from her frightened daughter during the shooting. “She said they were in a dark, locked classroom, not allowed to speak on the phone but could send messages,” Hietamies shared with Reuters.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen conveyed condolences to affected families, emphasizing the need for support in this trying time. Previous school shootings in Finland have prompted scrutiny of the country’s gun policies.
In 2007, a school shooting at Jokela High School claimed multiple lives, followed by another tragedy in 2008 at a vocational school in Kauhajoki. Finland subsequently tightened its gun legislation in 2010.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
