Finland's Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen (Green) has described the death of a woman at the Iso Omena shopping centre in Espoo as "shocking", adding that there are "serious problems" in the private security sector that need to be urgently addressed.
Police said that a person "became lifeless" after being taken into custody by shopping centre security guards on Saturday evening, and she died at the scene despite resuscitation attempts.
Mikkonen said she requested an explanation from the National Police Board last week on how police monitor the activities of security companies and individual security guards.
This request came prior to Saturday's incident, but was submitted after nine guards working with the Avarn security firm were detained by police on suspicion of beating and humiliating people at railway stations in the Helsinki region.
Mikkonen said that the government will consider further action based on the Police Board's report.
Andersson: Critical review of entire sector
Minister of Education Li Andersson (Left) also took to Twitter on Monday to call for a critical review of the entire security sector.
Andersson said that both the Iso Omena case, as well as the earlier reports of suspected violence used by security guards, should be thoroughly investigated.
"Guards and stewards should increase security. It is clear that the whole sector needs to be critically reviewed," Andersson wrote.
Police investigate Iso Omena death
In relation to the incident in the Iso Omena shopping centre, eyewitnesses have told media outlets that the woman was removed from a clothing store against her will by guards and, despite the fact that she was not behaving aggressively, she was pulled to the ground and held down by force.
A video of the incident appears to show that she was also handcuffed.
Eyewitnesses further reported that the woman had been screaming for help, that she could not breathe, and that she soon lost consciousness. Despite attempts by two bystanders and then paramedics to resuscitate the woman, she died at the scene.
One eyewitness told Finnish news agency STT that the resuscitation attempts were delayed, and that the woman was held on the ground for a period of up to 40 minutes.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the Western Uusimaa Police Department confirmed that the investigation into the death of the 35-year-old woman is continuing.
”A total of four people have been questioned over the weekend on suspicion of committing a crime. In addition, the police have interviewed several witnesses and are using the shopping centre's surveillance camera footage as well as video recordings provided by citizens to investigate the case,” the statement said.
Police added that they currently believe the woman had not visited any stores within the centre, but that the guards were called by another member of the public. The statement also noted that the woman was restrained by the security guards for a period of about 10 minutes.
Article updated at 9.1.2023 at 1:31pm to add information from Western Uusimaa Police Department's statement.
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