A tragic school shooting in southern Finland left one student dead and two others seriously wounded. The incident, carried out by a 12-year-old student, shocked the nation, prompting a day of mourning declared by the Finnish government. Mourners gathered outside the school to pay their respects, laying flowers and lighting candles in memory of the victims. The suspect, who was quickly apprehended, was a classmate of the victims, and police have identified a preliminary motive for the attack.
Police revealed that one of the wounded girls holds dual Finland-Kosovo citizenship, indicating the diverse background of the students involved. The suspect, who allegedly had been bullied at school, used a revolver-like handgun in the shooting. The deceased boy died instantly from his injuries, and the suspect was taken into custody within an hour of the incident. The gun used in the shooting was licensed to a relative of the suspect, who has admitted to the crime in initial police questioning.
Due to the age of the suspect, who is below the minimum criminal liability age of 15 in Finland, he cannot be formally arrested. Instead, he can only be questioned by police before being handed over to child welfare authorities. Finland has experienced two major school shootings in recent years, leading to tighter gun laws and stricter regulations for firearm ownership. Despite these measures, the country still has a significant number of licensed firearms, reflecting the prevalence of hunting and target shooting in Finnish culture.
The shooting at Viertola school in Vantaa, just outside Helsinki, has once again raised questions about school safety and the factors contributing to such tragic incidents. The community has come together to mourn the loss of life and show support for the victims and their families. As the investigation into the shooting continues, authorities will be looking for ways to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of students in Finnish schools. The nation’s response to this tragedy will likely spark further discussions about gun control and mental health in the country.
