12-year-old child opens fire on primary school pupils in Finland

A 12-year-old pupil opened fire Tuesday at a primary school in Vantaa outside the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

Preliminary reports from the police disclosed that three persons were wounded, and the attacker was in custody.

“All those involved in the shooting incident are minors. According to the Police’s information, there are three injured,” a police statement said.

The school has 800 students and 90 staff.

Children were told to stay in their classrooms after the attack, public broadcaster YLE reported.

Like other Finnish schools, children had just returned to classes in Vantaa, north of Helsinki, after the long Easter weekend.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described the shooting as profoundly upsetting and said his thoughts were with the victims and their families, as well as everyone at the school.

Recall that in 2007, an 18-year-old student shot dead seven pupils and his head teacher in the town of Tuusula.