A 12-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday for a shooting at a school in Virtula outside Helsinki in Finland.
A boy was killed and two girls were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Following the shooting, a significant spread of false information about the incident was reported on social media.
Among other things, screenshots of profiles are being posted on social media with accusations that they are connected to the shooting, Finnish police announced in press release.
Police are cracking down on the sharing and flow of rumors on social media.
We stress that such actions are illegal and could affect completely innocent people. This behavior also encourages others who intentionally spread false information and encourage “trolling” online, the press release states.
New student in school
On Wednesday, the 12-year-old suspect explained the background to the crime.
The motive behind this act was confirmed to be bullying, according to Finnish police.
They added that the information is also consistent with investigations conducted by the police.
The school that was the scene of the shooting lowered its flag at half-mast on Wednesday.
Photography: Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP
The 12-year-old boy was a student at the same school. Police say he changed schools a few months ago this year.
After changing schools, he became lonely a lot, according to information Helsingin Sanomat.
On the other hand, the head of the basic education school district, Ilkka Kalo, said on Wednesday that they had no information that the boy had been bullied, several Finnish media reports said.
He must have threatened other students
After the boy opened fire on the school, he allegedly threatened three students on their way to school in the Seltamaki neighbourhood. He threatened them with a weapon, according to police information.
The boy was arrested about an hour after the school shooting on Tuesday. Things went smoothly, according to eyewitnesses.
Police intervened in a shooting incident on Tuesday.
Photograph: Marco Olander/AP
The boy is known to have used a handgun-like gun in the school shooting. Police confirmed that the weapon belonged to one of his relatives.
Police are investigating the gun threats as an independent incident.
published
04/03/2024 at 21.21
Updated
04/03/2024 at 22.45
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