HELSINKI, Finland – A tragic incident unfolded at a secondary school in Vantaa, just outside the capital city of Helsinki, as a 12-year-old student perpetrated a shooting on Tuesday morning. The young suspect opened fire, resulting in the death of one student and leaving two others seriously injured, according to police. Both the suspect and the victims were reported to be 12 years old, highlighting the heartbreaking nature of the event.
Law enforcement swiftly responded to the shooting, cordoning off the lower secondary school premises where approximately 800 students were in attendance. The suspect was later apprehended in the Helsinki area with a handgun in his possession. Chief of Police Ilka Koskimaki from the Eastern Uusima Police Department revealed that one of the wounded students had tragically succumbed to their injuries, while the other two remained in critical condition.
Expressing deep shock and sorrow over the tragedy, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo conveyed his sentiments to the public. Finland has unfortunately witnessed previous school shootings, with two major incidents in recent decades that resulted in significant loss of life.
In November 2007, an 18-year-old student carried out a deadly attack at Jokela high school in Tuusula, claiming the lives of nine individuals before taking his own life. Less than a year later, in September 2008, a 22-year-old student perpetrated a similar act at a vocational college in Kauhajoki, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals before he also took his own life.
Finland, known for its hunting and gun-ownership traditions, has seen calls for stricter firearm regulations following past tragedies. In response to the school shootings in 2007 and 2008, the country implemented tighter gun laws, including raising the minimum age for firearm ownership and empowering police to conduct thorough background checks on individuals seeking a gun license. Despite these measures, the recent incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence within the nation.