Knife attack suspect remanded in custody

A Finnish court has ruled that a Moroccan asylum-seeker be remanded in custody after a knife attack that killed two and wounded eight people in the southwestern city of Turku.

The regional court in Turku said yesterday that the 18-year-old male suspect would be held on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

Three alleged associates were named as accomplices in assisting and planning the attack.

The main suspect, Abderrahman Mechkah, has admitted to Friday’s stabbings, but the others – all Moroccan – have denied any involvement.

The court said they were suspected of “participation in the murders and attempted murders, committed with terrorist intent”. Police investigators are exploring possible links to last week’s extremist attacks in Spain in which most of the perpetrators and suspects are reported to be Moroccans. Finland’s prime minister, Juha Sipilä, has described the stabbings as the country’s first terrorist attack.