VANTAA, Finland – A tragic school shooting unfolded in Vantaa, Finland on Tuesday, resulting in the death of one student and severe injuries to two others, all 12 years old, according to local law enforcement. The alleged shooter, also a 12-year-old, was apprehended in the Helsinki area with the firearm still in his possession.
Upon receiving reports of active gunfire, local authorities swiftly arrived at Viertola school, which has around 800 students enrolled from grades 1 through 9. The school was secured and the immediate threat was neutralized, as confirmed by school principal Sari Laasila.
During the morning assembly, Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen addressed the horrifying incident, expressing sympathy for the affected families and confirming the arrest of the suspected perpetrator. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo also expressed shock at the disturbing event. At present, authorities have not determined a clear motive for the shooting..
Finland, a sparsely-populated country known for its hunting culture, has a significant presence of firearms. With approximately 1.5 million licensed firearms owned by about 430,000 license holders, the country has implemented stricter gun control policies since the 2007 and 2008 shootings. These policies include increasing the minimum age for firearm possession and enhancing law enforcement’s capacity for conducting background checks.