Finland School Shooting: 1 Child Dies, 2 Injured as Police Takes 12-Year-Old Suspect Into Custody

Finland School Shooting Child Dies 2 Injured 12-Year-Old Suspect Taken Into Custody school shooting

By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Apr 02, 12:20 pm

Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images )

As reported by the police, three 12-year-old children were shot at a school near Finland's capital on Tuesday, leading to the unfortunate death of one victim. A 12-year-old classmate believed to be responsible for the attack has been arrested.

Three 12-Year-Old Children Fall Victims in Finland School Shooting

The wounded casualties were transferred to the hospital, as verified by a police spokesperson. At the school, one building was quarantined by the police, while parents were collecting their children from another building.

The arrest took place peacefully in Siltamaki, a suburb away from the school. Both the suspect and the weapon are now in police custody, with no other suspects identified at present. During primary questioning, the suspect admitted to carrying out the shooting.

A video circulating on social media, not verified by Reuters, illustrated two police officers kneeling beside the suspected gunner, who was lying face down on a sidewalk. Information concerning the identities of the children and the condition of the surviving casualties was not immediately revealed.

The gunfire happened at Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb of Helsinki, which has roughly 800 pupils from first to ninth grade and a staff of 90, according to the municipality.

Anja Hietamies, the mom of an 11-year-old pupil, recounted receiving a message from her daughter after the gunfire, conveying fear as she and her classmates were in a locked, dark classroom.

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen described the day's events as "horrifying," expressing empathy for affected families. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo also expressed shock at the circumstances, offering condolences to the casualties and their families.

Finland Prompt Examination of the Country's Gun Policy

Previous school shootings in Finland have a timely inspection of the nation's gun policy. In 2007, Pekka-Eric Auvinen badly shot six students, the school nurse, the principal, and himself at Jokela High School.

A year later, in 2008, Matti Saari opened fire at a vocational school in Kauhajoki, murdering nine students and a male staff member before taking his own life.

Finland strong its gun laws in 2010, establishing an aptitude test for all firearms license applicants and raising the age limit from 18 to 20. The country boasts more than 1.5 million licensed firearms and roughly 430,000 license holders in a population of 5.6 million, where hunting and targeting gunfire are popular activities.

Viertola school accommodates students aged seven to 15, with a total of 800 students and 90 staff members across two campuses, Liljatie and Jokiranta. The circumstances reportedly happened at the Jokiranta campus.

The school's principal, Sari Laasila, assured that the immediate danger was over. Parents gathered at the school where their children had returned after the Easter weekend. Police urged bystanders to stay away from the area and remain indoors, intensifying vigilance.

Primarily, it was believed that three minors were wounded, but it was later verified that one child had passed away and two were in critical condition.