Three 12-year-old children were shot at a school outside Finland’s capital on Tuesday, with one victim tragically passing away from their injuries. The incident took place at the Viertola school in Vantaa, where around 800 pupils from first to ninth grade attend.
Authorities swiftly took a 12-year-old fellow pupil into custody as the suspected shooter. The arrest occurred peacefully in the suburb of Siltamaki, with the suspect and the weapon now in police custody. At the scene of the shooting, police cordoned off the school building while parents arrived to pick up their children.
Currently, there are no other suspects in connection with the shooting, and police are actively investigating the incident. A video circulating on social media showed law enforcement officials at the scene of the suspected shooter.
Both the Interior Minister and the Prime Minister have expressed shock and concern for the victims and their families in the wake of this tragic event. This is not the first school shooting to have occurred in Finland, with past incidents leading to tighter gun legislation.
In 2007, six students and others were killed by Pekka-Eric Auvinen, while in 2008, nine students and one staff member were killed by Matti Saari. As a result, Finland implemented stricter gun legislation in 2010, including the introduction of an aptitude test and raising the age limit for gun license applicants.
The community is reeling from this latest school shooting, as authorities work to determine the motive behind the attack and ensure the safety of students and faculty at Viertola school.
