Finland marks a minute’s silence for victims stabbed by teen Moroccan

FINLAND observed a minute of silence yesterday for the victims of a stabbing attack in the city of Turku that left two people dead and eight injured.

Friday’s stabbing is being investigated as the country’s first terror attack. At Turku’s market square, where the attack happened, several hundred people gathered to hold a minute of silence.

Candles and flowers lay on the square, with city officials, rescue crews in uniform, police officers and the public forming a ring around the makeshift memorial. Bells rang for 15 minutes. Archbishop Kari Makinen, the head of Finland’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, was also present.

One of those injured in the attack, Hassan Zubier – a British paramedic visiting Turku who came to the aid of a woman who later died – attended the ceremony in a wheelchair, arriving directly from the hospital.

Similar ceremonies were held across the country.

Finnish police said on Saturday that an 18-year-old Moroccan asylum seeker had deliberately targeted women in the attack. His motive was not yet known. Police shot and wounded the knifewielding suspect, detaining him minutes after the afternoon rampage in the southwestern city.

An Italian, a Swede and a Briton were among the injured.

Police were to interrogate the suspect yesterday. He has so far refused to speak to investigators. — AFP