A tragic incident unfolded at a school in Finland as a child lost their life and two others sustained serious injuries in a shooting, according to the police.

The authorities reported that all three victims were 12 years old, and a 12-year-old suspect, who fled initially, was later apprehended.

Parents informed Finnish media that the shooting occurred in a classroom at Viertola school in Vantaa, situated to the north of the capital, Helsinki.

Police disclosed that they reached the school within nine minutes at 09:17 (06:17 GMT) and attended to the three victims.

Tomi Salosyrja, the local police chief, stated, “One of the victims died almost immediately at this location in the school.” The condition of the other two children is described as very serious, as they have been taken to the hospital.

Following the long Easter weekend, children had just returned to classes in Vantaa, adjacent to Helsinki. All individuals involved were in the sixth grade.

The suspect fled upon the arrival of the police but was later detained “in a calm manner” in the northern Siltamaki district of Helsinki at 09:58. A video captured the suspect being subdued beside a road nearly 4km (2.5 miles) from the school.

Authorities stated that the suspect was in possession of a firearm, which was confiscated, and admitted to carrying out the shooting.

An investigation into murder and attempted murder has been initiated.

In Finland, individuals under the age of 15 are not criminally liable. Therefore, the suspect has not been remanded in custody and will be placed in the care of social services after further interrogation.

The suspect is believed to have utilized a gun licensed to a close relative. Finland has widespread gun ownership, and individuals over 15 can obtain licenses to use firearms belonging to others.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo expressed profound dismay, emphasizing the pressing need to address mental health challenges among young people: “We have to be able to tackle these issues sooner.”

President Alexander Stubb conveyed his shock, announcing a day of mourning in Finland on Wednesday.

Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson, visibly emotional, termed the incident a great tragedy during a news conference. She extended her condolences to the “12-year-old who will never come home from school again.”

Henriksson highlighted the alarming ease with which a 12-year-old accessed a gun. She pledged that the government would evaluate whether additional measures were necessary to safeguard Finland’s schools once all details were available.

Following the attack, students at the school were instructed to remain in their classrooms, while nearby educational institutions were advised to secure their premises.

The shooting stirred memories of previous deadly assaults, including two shootings and a sword attack at a vocational school four years ago.

In 2007, an 18-year-old student fatally shot six pupils, the school nurse, and his head teacher in Jokela, north of Helsinki. The subsequent year, another student used a semi-automatic rifle to kill nine pupils and a teacher at a polytechnic in Kauhajoki.

These incidents prompted stricter gun laws, mandating gun owners to be at least 18 years old. However, individuals over 15 can apply for a permit to use someone else’s firearm with guardian consent. Moreover, 18-year-olds must demonstrate fitness to possess a firearm before being granted a permit.

National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen acknowledged the challenge of preventing school shootings, stating that police rely on intelligence in such cases.

Finland, recognized for its hunting culture and enthusiastic gun ownership, boasts 430,000 licensed gun owners among its 5.6 million population, according to government data. There is no cap on the number of firearms one can own, with over 1.5 million estimated to be in circulation.

As news of the shooting spread, parents gathered at the school to collect their children, while the site of the incident remained cordoned off.

Vantaa, Finland’s fourth-largest city with approximately 240,000 residents, houses Viertola School, accommodating 800 students aged seven to 16 across two locations with around 90 staff members. The shooting occurred at the school’s Jokiranta site, where students aged 9–13 are educated.

Initially, police reported that everyone involved was 13 years old, but subsequently revised their ages down to 12.