Authorities have said a “violent attack” at a vocational school in Finland has led to the death of at least one person and left 10 others injured.
Witnesses described the assailant as wielding a sword as he burst into a classroom at Savo Vocational College in Kuopio on Tuesday morning.
“He hit a girl in the neck with a sword and stabbed her in the stomach,” one witness said to local media. That eyewitness also described the perpetrator as setting off “small firebombs.”
Local authorities stated that the scene was under control and the suspect was among those injured.
“Officers used firearms during the situation,” Eastern Finland police said in a statement. “Police have detained one perpetrator. The injured have been evacuated.”
Police also said, “Two have been injured severely and one of the people in hospital is the suspected perpetrator.”
Authorities additionally reassured the public that there was no immediate threat after evacuating the building and conducting an inspection. Authorities have not released the identity of the suspect nor have they suggested a possible motivation for the attack.
“The violence at Savo Vocational College in Kuopio is shocking and completely unacceptable,” Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne tweeted on Tuesday. “I have discussed with the Director General of Police and the government is monitoring the situation closely. On behalf of myself and the entire Government, I extend my condolences to all the relatives.”
Savon ammattiopistossa Kuopiossa tapahtunut väkivallanteko on järkyttävä ja täysin tuomittava. Olen keskustellut poliisiylijohtajan kanssa ja hallitus seuraa tilannetta tarkasti. Esitän omasta ja koko hallituksen puolesta surunvalitteluni kaikille omaisille.
— Antti Rinne (@AnttiRinnepj) October 1, 2019
