Mourners gathered outside a school in southern Finland following a tragic shooting involving a 12-year-old student who fatally shot a boy and seriously wounded two girls of the same age with a handgun. The suspect, also a sixth grader at the school, was apprehended within an hour of the incident. The attack caused shock throughout the Nordic nation, prompting a day of mourning declared by the Finnish government. Flags were flown at half-staff, and many people, including parents, teachers, and fellow students, visited the school to lay flowers and light candles in memory of the victims.
Police indicated that the shooter and the victims were all classmates, with one of the wounded girls holding dual Finland-Kosovo citizenship. While a preliminary motive was established, investigations were ongoing, with reports indicating that the suspect may have been bullied at school. The Viertola school, where the shooting took place, was heavily guarded by police following the incident. The deceased boy died instantly, and the suspect was quickly detained in possession of the handgun used in the attack, which was licensed to a relative who was not immediately identified. The suspect admitted to the shooting during an initial police hearing.
Due to the suspect’s age being below the minimum criminal liability age of 15 in Finland, formal arrest is not possible in this case. Those under 15 can only be questioned by police before being handed over to child welfare authorities. Finland has previously experienced deadly school shootings in 2007 and 2008, leading to stricter gun laws. These included raising the minimum age for firearms ownership and giving police greater authority to conduct background checks for gun license applicants. Despite these measures, Finland continues to have a significant number of licensed firearms, reflecting the country’s deeply rooted traditions of hunting and gun ownership.
With a population of 5.6 million, Finland has over 1.5 million licensed firearms and approximately 430,000 license holders, according to the Interior Ministry. Hunting and target practice are widespread hobbies in this sparsely populated northern European nation. The tragic school shooting in southern Finland has once again highlighted the need for ongoing efforts to address issues related to gun violence and safeguard the safety of students and communities. The incident has evoked a sense of mourning and unity among the Finnish people, as they come together to remember the victims and reflect on ways to prevent such tragedies in the future.
