Three pupils were injured in a stabbing incident at Vähäjärvi School in Tampere's Pirkkala region on Tuesday morning.
Local police were alerted to reports of a violent incident at the school at 10.42am. The suspected perpetrator, who police confirmed is a pupil of the school, was taken into custody about eight minutes later.
According to the information available on Tuesday evening, the victims' injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Yle understands that one victim was stabbed in the neck, another in the hand, and a third in the waist. This information has not yet been officially confirmed.
Police probe suspect's alleged manifesto
There have been widespread reports that the suspect, who Yle understands is a 16-year-old boy, published a manifesto saying he planned to use a knife in the attack and that his intended targets would be female pupils.
According to the manifesto, he wanted to do something "significant" and "exciting", with the stated aim of going to prison for two to four years.
The manifesto also claims he had no friends and did not want any. He reportedly planned the act for about six months, allegedly using ChatGPT as an aid.
Yle has seen the manifesto but has not been able to verify that it was written by the suspect. Police are examining the material allegedly published by the suspect as part of their investigation.
Police: All three victims aged under 15
Detective Inspector Jari Kinnunen told a press conference on Tuesday evening that the three girls injured in the incident were all aged under 15 years old.
Kinnunen added that police are currently investigating the incident under the charge of attempted murder, although this may change as the investigation progresses. He also said that an interview with the suspect was due to take place around the same time as the press conference was being held.
He further addressed reports of the suspect's alleged manifesto as well as videos circulating on social media apparently showing the attack, saying the police have not yet been able to confirm the veracity of either.
Detective Inspector Petri Kollanen confirmed to the same press conference that the suspect was identified and detained within minutes of the report to police, and he offered no resistance when approached by officers.
Police were unwilling to comment on the seriousness of the injuries to the victims. They also declined to speculate on the suspect's possible motives.
Students at the school as well as their families have been offered crisis support, a spokesperson for the Pirkanmaa regional welfare authority told the press conference. The authority will also distribute information to families on how to discuss the events with their children at home.
"Unequivocally condemnable"
Government ministers widely condemned the school stabbing.
Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz (SPP) took to messaging platform X to say, "all violence in schools is unequivocally condemnable."
Social Security Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP), also posting on X, drew attention to the importance of children now having adults they can talk to.
Interior Minsiter Mari Rantanen (Finns) meanwhile described the incident as "extremely worrying," adding that the authorities will investigate when can be done to prevent young people from carrying knives.
"I think it is also the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children do not carry knives with them," Rantanen said.
