Boy, 12, kills classmate in shooting

A pupil was killed and two others were seriously injured when a 12-year-old boy armed with a handgun opened fire at a school in Finland as students arrived back from their Easter break.

Police said that the victim had died at the scene, the Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb to the north of the capital, Helsinki. The injured pupils were taken to hospital.

The suspect fled on foot and was subsequently arrested in a nearby suburb but under Finnish law cannot be remanded in custody because he is under 15. He was to be taken into the care of social services.

Police said they had retrieved the weapon, which was licensed. The permit belonged to a relative of the suspect.

Video circulating on social media showed two police officers kneeling at the side of the suspected assailant, who was lying face down on a pavement.

Petteri Orpo, Finland’s prime minister, called the incident “deeply shocking” in a post on Twitter/X.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the other students and staff,” he added.

At a later press conference, Orpo vowed that such a tragedy would not be repeated. “What makes it particularly shocking is the age of the victim and the suspect,” he said. “I can assure you that this [shooting] will be carefully reviewed and conclusions will be drawn that this will not happen again.”

Flags were to be flown at half-mast across Finland as a sign of national mourning. The shooting took place shortly after 9am yesterday. About 800 pupils and 90 staff attend the school.

Armed police officers were spotted at the scene as concerned parents tried to get inside the school to reach their children. The shooting had taken place inside a classroom, according to Finnish media.

Witnesses told the public broadcaster Yle that two ambulances had left the scene. Officials later confirmed that all those involved in the incident were aged 12.

It is the latest school shooting in Finland, which has sought to control access to firearms in recent years.