The suspect in an alleged assault on MP Krista Kiuru (SDP) has told investigators that he "swiped" at the politician because he thought she had made a phone call to police about him.
"During Monday's interrogation, he said that he [the suspect] had been behaving in a disturbing manner prior to this incident," Detective Chief Inspector Tommi Lehtonen, who is leading the investigation, told Yle.
The suspect said he saw Kiuru talking on her phone, and believed she was reporting his behaviour to the police.
Kiuru said on Friday that she was punched in the face by an unknown assailant in Helsinki's Kaisaniemi Park as she was on the way to pick up her child from daycare.
During an interview with investigators over the weekend, the 34-year-old suspect admitted to "pushing" Kiuru. He has also stated that the attack was random, and not politically motivated.
"The punch came suddenly. There was no communication [between Kiuru and the suspect] before, during or after the act," Lehtonen said.
Suspect to be released
The unnamed suspect has been in police custody since Saturday, but Lehtonen confirmed to Yle that he will likely be released on Monday.
"There are still a few things to be clarified," Lehtonen said, adding that the police aim to wrap up the investigation by the beginning of next year before sending a file to prosecutors for further consideration.
Kiuru on sick leave
According to Finnish news agency STT, Kiuru is on sick leave from Parliament on Monday.
This was confirmed to the agency by Kiuru's parliamentary assistant.
Kiuru is however expected to return to work on Tuesday, when Parliament will vote on the government's proposed changes to Finland's hospital network.
