Finnish police arrest two more suspects in knife rampage

Police in Finland on Wednesday arrested two more suspects in connection with last week’s stabbings that killed two people and wounded eight in a knife rampage in the southwestern city of Turku, authorities said.

Police said they detained the two men on suspicion “of preparation of an offence to be committed with terrorist intent,” bringing the total number of arrests to six. On Tuesday, a regional court ordered that the main suspect — an 18-year-old Moroccan asylumseeker — be detained on suspicion of terrorist crimes, including two counts of murder and eight counts of attempted murder. Three alleged accomplices — all believed to be Moroccan — were ordered to be held on suspicion they helped plan the attack.

The main suspect, who has acknowledged Friday’s stabbings but denies murder, was named as Abderrahman Mechkah although police said they believe he is using a false identity. Investigators have said they are exploring possible links to last week’s extremist attacks in Spain. Detective Superintendent Markus Laine told national broadcaster YLE Wednesday that there were signs he had become “radicalized” but declined to give any details.

He was shot in the thigh by police during the knife rampage in Turku and was treated for his wounds at a local hospital before a planned move to a prison hospital.