Finland: 12-year-old student opens fire at a school in Helsinki, wounding 3

The shooting took place at the Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb of the Finnish capital, where around 800 students and 90 staff attend. Police in Finland say one of three students who were wounded in a school in Helsinki shooting has died and the two others are seriously injured. The suspect, a 12-year-old, was […]

Finland: 12-year-old student opens fire at a school in Helsinki, wounding 3

Finland: 12-year-old student opens fire at a school in Helsinki, wounding 3 thumbnail

The shooting took place at the Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb of the Finnish capital, where around 800 students and 90 staff attend.

Police in Finland say one of three students who were wounded in a school in Helsinki shooting has died and the two others are seriously injured.

The suspect, a 12-year-old, was arrested later on Tuesday, officers said.

Heavily armed police cordoned off the lower secondary school just outside Finland’s capital, after receiving a call about a shooting incident at 09:08 a.m. local time.

“The day started in a horrifying way,” wrote Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen on X. “There has been a shooting incident at the Viertola school in Vantaa. I can only imagine the pain and worry that many families are experiencing at the moment. 

“The suspected perpetrator has been caught,” he added. 

Authorities asked people in the area to stay away from the school and to remain indoors while not letting in strangers. 

The school, housed in two locations, also includes special education classes.