Three minors are wounded in gun rampage at Finland primary school before child shooter is arrested

A child opened fire in a gun rampage at a Finnish primary school this morning injuring three other minors, police said.

The incident took place at Viertolan Koulu school in Vantaa early on Tuesday, which has around 800 students, Finnish officials said in a statement.

Police were called to the primary school at around 9am local time and a suspect has been detained, reports said. Locals have been told to keep away from the area.

Police later said that three minors were injured in the attack and that the suspect was also a child. Their identity has not been released.

Local reports said that all involved were 13 years old, and that parents at the school have said the shooting occurred inside a classroom.

‘All those involved in the shooting incident are minors. According to the police’s current information, there are three injured,’ a police statement said. 

Pictures from the school showed armed cops working at the scene, with police cars and ambulance parked in the playground which was locked down this morning.

The incident took place at Viertolan Koulu school in Vantaa early on Tuesday, which has around 800 students, Finnish police said in a statement

Armed Finnish police investigate the scene at the primary school Viertola comprehensive school where a child opened fire and injured three other children, on April 2, 2024 in Vantaa

According to two parents at the school who spoke to Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, frightened children called their parents from inside the building.

In addition to its 800 students, about 90 staff work at the school. 

The police said in an earlier statement: ‘Police are at the scene investigating the incident. Bystanders are asked to stay away from the area and indoors. 

‘The door should not be opened to strangers,’ 

The Viertola school’s principal Sari Laasila later told Reuters that ‘the immediate danger is over’, declining to comment further on the incident.

Helsingin Sanomat reported that the school is situated across two ‘teaching points’ – Liljatie Teaching Point and Jokiranta Teaching Point.

Citing eyewitness reports, the publication reported that the shooting was likely carried out at the Jokiranta teaching point after cars and ambulances were spotted there on Tuesday morning. 

Police were called to the primary school at around 9am local time and a suspect has been detained, reports said. Locals have been told to keep away from the area

The eyewitness told Helsingin Sanomat that two ambulances and police cars left the school at around 10am local time (7am GMT).

He said there had been several police cars at the scene. 

Vantaa is found around ten miles north of Finland’s capital of Helsinki and is home to around 250,000 people.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…