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 in a classroom and parents were able to speak to their children over the phone.
Police were called to the scene shortly after 9 a.m. local time and the suspect was arrested in Helsinki around 10 a.m. The suspect and the three injured children were all 12 years old. The arrest was carried out peacefully, with the perpetrator found in possession of a firearm. A video shows police officers holding the suspect down to the ground during the arrest.
The crisis unit established by the school and municipality is managing the situation. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen expressed her sympathy for the families affected by the 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 before this one occurred.
