A tragic incident unfolded at Jokiranta school, a part of the Viertola educational complex in Vantaa, Finland, near Helsinki, on Tuesday, April 2. A 12-year-old student was killed, and two others of the same age were critically injured in a shooting incident.
The alleged perpetrator, also a 12-year-old student from the same school, managed to escape on foot post the incident. However, the police were able to apprehend him later, finding a handgun on his person. The firearm was identified as being registered to a family member of the suspect.
According to the authorities, during an interview with the police, the boy confessed to the crime and said that it was because he was bullied.
Local law enforcement were swift in their response on Tuesday morning. As per Finnish law, the suspect, being under the age of criminal responsibility, cannot be formally arrested. Hence, child welfare authorities have charge of the suspect after the police complete their investigation.
The school, which caters to a broad age range of students, had over 800 pupils and 90 staff members on the premises during the incident.
The Finnish government expressed shock at the incident. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo conveyed his deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and the school community. President Alexander Stubb extended his wishes for strength and recovery to the injured.
The authorities are investigating the case as a count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, emphasizing the severity of the incident and its deep impact on the nation.
The incident brings back painful memories of the 2007 and 2008 school shootings in Finland, which led to significant changes in the country’s gun laws. The adjustments included increasing the minimum age for firearm licenses and implementing more rigorous background checks, to prevent such incidents.
Finland, a country with over 1.5 million licensed firearms and about 430,000 license holders, allows gun ownership from age 15 with parental permission. This incident sparked calls for a review of gun legislation and increased support for youth mental health, years after previous school shootings led to tighter gun laws.
Expressing her devastation over the incident, Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson emphasized the irreplaceable loss of young life and the impact on the larger school community.
In solidarity with the victims and their families, and to collectively mourn the loss, Finland declared a national day of mourning on April 4.
