Finland school shooting leaves one student dead, 12-year-old suspect arrested

Finland school shooting leaves one minor dead
Shooting in Finland leaves student dead. Photo Courtesy:Wikimedia Commons/1.0 Universal

A child died and two others were injured in a shooting incident in Finland’s Vantaa city on Tuesday.

Police said the injured students were admitted to hospital for treatment.

The handgun used by the perpetrator was licensed to a close relative, reported YLE.

The possible motive behind the attack is still not known.

Police said that the suspect in the incident is a 12-year-old boy and he has been apprehended as well.

The suspected shooter fled the school on foot and was caught by officers in the northern Helsinki neighbourhood of Siltamäki, YLE reported quoting police.

Police said the incident is currently being investigated as murder and attempted murder.

Children under the age of 15 are not remanded into custody in Finland. As a minor, the suspect is not criminally liable, reported YLE.

Viertola school, where the incident took place, has 800 students studying between grades 1 and 9.

The school has 90 staff members.

The shooting took place at Jokiranta site where pupils aged 9-13 are taught.

Vantaa is the fourth largest city in Finland.

It has 240,000 residents.

Finland PM expresses shock

Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo expressed shock and posted on X: “The shooting scene in Vantaa deeply shocks. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the other students and staff of Viertola school.”