Police revealed on Wednesday that the 12-year-old boy who opened fire on his schoolmates at a Finnish school, Viertola, near Helsinki, resulting in one death and serious injury to two others, had been a victim of bullying. Allegedly, this was the motive behind his act of violence. The incident took place on Tuesday when the child brought a family member’s revolver to the school, threatening and shooting three of his 12-year-old peers. He had joined the school at the start of 2024, according to the investigative team.
The government, calling for national mourning on Wednesday, decreed that flags on state buildings should be lowered halfway as a tribute to the deceased pupil. The other injured students are still receiving hospital treatment.
Detective Chief Inspector Marko Sarkka revealed that they had only just realised bullying was a factor in the incident, upon which the preliminary police inquiry corroborated. Although Sarkka did not further disclose any information, it was unclear whether the assailant had intended to single out any specific victims.
A 2023 study by the public health institute THL disclosed an increasing trend of school bullying in Finland. Now, 8.6% of students around the age of 12 claim they have been bullied at least weekly, a rise from 7.2% in 2019. The firearm used in the violent assault belonged to a relative, confirmed by the police, although it was uncertain how the child had gained access to the weapon.
Authorities are examining the incident as a separate firearm violation. The other two students injured during the attack endured critical injuries, as police announced on Wednesday.
In the wake of the Tuesday morning shooting, worried parents congregated outside the school for many hours while educators secured their students indoors when law enforcement officials scoped out the location.
The alleged perpetrator was finally caught about 4km away, still armed. Authorities clarified, stating that there were no further suspects involved in the incident. The identity of the accused shooter and the victims remained undisclosed except for their age and that they were all 12-year-old students of the same school.
The Kosovo foreign ministry confirmed via a Facebook post that a Kosovan girl was amongst those injured.
After witnessing fatal school shootings in both 2007 and 2008, a change in Finland’s gun legislation occurred in 2010. This change brought in a mandatory aptitude test for anyone applying for a firearms license, and the minimum age requirement was increased from 18 to 20.
Finland, with a population of 5.6 million people, has over 1.5 million licensed firearms, held by around 430,000 license owners. The pastime of hunting and target shooting are prevalent in the country. – Reuters
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