LAST UPDATE | 2 Apr 2024

ONE CHILD HAS died and two others have been seriously injured after a 12-year-old shooter opened fire at a school in Finland this morning. 

Heavily armed police cordoned off the lower secondary school, with around 800 students, in the city of Vantaa, just outside the capital, Helsinki, after receiving a call about a shooting incident at 9.08am.

Finnish police earlier said three children, all aged 12, were injured in the shooting. 

They have now confirmed that one child has died and the two others have been seriously injured. 

Police arrested a suspect, also aged 12, in the Helsinki area with a gun in his possession.

An investigation into murder and attempted murder has been opened. 

Locals were earlier asked to remain indoors and stay away from the area. 

Images from the scene showed a large number of police officers at the school.

A witness told the Iltalehti newspaper that shots had echoed across the schoolyard.

“At first I didn’t understand it was a weapon. Then a terrible scream could be heard and children ran across the yard,” the witness said.

Parents of the students told journalists the shooting took place in a classroom.

Shortly after noon, police had begun letting parents who were waiting outside the school inside to see their children, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen acknowledged the day had started in a “shocking way”.

“I can only imagine the pain and worry that many families are experiencing at the moment,” she posted on X.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo posted on X that he was “deeply shocked” over the shooting.

With reporting by Press Association and AFP.