“Finland School Shooting: Police Identify Bullying as Motive Behind Attack”
On Wednesday, authorities revealed that a 12-year-old boy, who allegedly shot and killed a fellow sixth-grader while severely injuring two others at Viertola school near Helsinki, Finland, disclosed that bullying was the driving force behind his actions.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday when the boy brought a relative’s revolver to the school premises, targeting the three 12-year-olds and threatening additional individuals. Investigators disclosed that the perpetrator had only recently transferred to the school at the beginning of 2024.
The nation mourned the tragedy on Wednesday, observing a national day of mourning, during which flags on public buildings were flown at half-mast in honor of the deceased child. Meanwhile, the two other victims remained hospitalized with injuries deemed life-threatening by authorities.
Detective Chief Inspector Marko Sarkka, the lead investigator, confirmed the role of bullying in the tragedy but declined to provide further details. Notably, authorities have not specified if the attacker had specific targets in mind.
Finland has been grappling with an increasing incidence of bullying in schools, as evidenced by a 2023 study by the public health institute THL, which indicated that 8.6% of pupils, approximately 12 years old, reported being bullied at least once a week—a notable increase from 7.2% in 2019.
As for the weapon used in the attack, police revealed that the revolver’s permit belonged to a relative of the suspect, though it remains unclear how the young shooter obtained access to the firearm.
CANDLES AND FLOWERS
On Wednesday, mourners gathered outside the school in Vantaa, lighting hundreds of candles and laying down flowers as a tribute to the victims of the tragic incident. Among those mourning was Valentina Goncharenko, the mother of a fifth-grader at the school, who emphasized the importance of increased communication between parents, teachers, and children to promptly identify cases of bullying. She advocated for allocating more resources to address such incidents effectively.
In the wake of previous school shootings in 2007 and 2008, Finland implemented stricter gun legislation in 2010, including an aptitude test for all firearms license applicants and raising the minimum age for applicants to 20 from 18.
Despite the presence of over 1.5 million licensed firearms and approximately 430,000 license holders in the country, where hunting and target shooting are popular, there have been no immediate calls for changes to the gun laws following Tuesday’s tragic events.
Tuomo Matero, a musician in central Helsinki, expressed concerns about access to firearms, highlighting the need for responsible storage of handguns and emphasizing that no 12-year-old should have access to such weapons.
He stressed the importance of ensuring school environments are safe and free from bullying, suggesting that adequate staffing levels and a supportive atmosphere are essential preventive measures against such tragedies.
Author:- Apoorva Arora