Finland: the young shooter had planned his act, according to the police

The 12-year-old boy who killed a student in his class was shot and seriously injured. two girls at a school in Finland, probably planned his act, police said Thursday.

Finland is still in shock from the shooting that occurred Tuesday morning at a school in the country's fourth city, Vantaa, north of the capital Helsinki.

“The preliminary investigation has uncovered facts suggesting that the act was planned,” said the police official leading the investigation, Marko Sarkka, quoted in a statement.

“Research carried out on the seized devices which were in the suspect's possession, a telephone and a computer, revealed elements which confirm this hypothesis”, added Mr. Sarkka.

The police indicated on Wednesday that the perpetrator of the shooting had justified his action by the harassment of which he was a victim. The boy had joined the Viertola school at the beginning of the year.

The killed child, a 12-year-old Finn, died at the scene of the killing and the suspect had already left the school when the police arrived, shortly after 9:00 a.m.

Residents gather in front of the Vantaa school, where a 12-year-old boy shot and killed a student in his class on Tuesday and seriously injured two girls, on April 3, 2024 in Finland © AFP – Olivier MORIN

The revolver-type weapon used by the boy belonged to one of his relatives, according to the police, who specify that this aspect of the case is the subject of a separate investigation for “violation related to firearms”.

The suspect cannot be found criminally responsible, because he is under 15 years old, and is in the care of social services.

The two seriously injured girls are still hospitalized but investigators hope to be able to question one of them “in the coming days”.

The Viertola school welcomes 800 students aged 7 to 15 spread over two sites and has remained open since the crime, although hours have been reduced.

The preliminary investigation is “advancing at a rapid pace” but will not be completed for “months”, according to the police.

The investigators continue their technical investigations into the scene of the act and hear students, parents, witnesses and school staff.

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