Three children were injured in a shooting at a primary school in Finland early on Tuesday, police have said.
Authorities added that the suspect, who is also a minor, has been apprehended as they urge people to stay indoors.
The force responded to the incident at the Viertola school in Vantaa, a suburb to the capital Helsinki, shortly after 9am local time (7am GMT).
The school has around 800 students from first to ninth grade and a staff of some 90 people, according to the local municipality.
Police are urging people nearby not to open their doors to strangers.
“Police are at the scene investigating the incident. Bystanders are asked to stay away from the area and indoors. The door should not be opened to strangers,” the police said in a statement.
The victims were taken to hospital, a police spokesperson told Reuters and the school’s principal Sari Laasila said “The immediate danger is over”.
Like most Finnish schools, students were just returning to class after the Easter break when the shooting happened.
Finnish broadcaster MTV Uutiset reported that armed police officers were spotted at the scene as concerned parents tried to get inside the school to reach their children.
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Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
