The likely perpetrator of the tragedy turned himself in to the police.
Five people died in a fire in Vantaa. All of them were members of a Somali family. The fire is believed to have been caused by arson. One person has been detained.
Police suspect a 70-year-old man living in the house of murder and causing significant property damage.
- According to preliminary data, the victims were members of one family: two adults and three children, - said at a press conference the head of the investigation, Commissioner of the Criminal Police Sanna Rentola from the Eastern Uusimaa Police.
The adult victims were aged 35–40, and the children were 3, 6, and 8 years old. An infant found in the hallway has been hospitalized.
According to Rentola, the victims and other residents of the house were not the target of the suspect's actions. The fire was set in the suspect's apartment.
Police detained the man living in the house. According to Police Commissioner Mikael Baklund, he turned himself in to the police. The suspect is a native Finn.
Seven police crews were working at the scene. The Eastern Uusimaa Police received assistance from colleagues in Helsinki and Southeast Finland.
Two of the deceased were students at the Karhunpesä kindergarten, and one was a first-grader at the Pyhäkyjärvi school, reported acting Deputy Mayor of Vantaa Ilkka Kalo.
The kindergarten and school are discussing the incident considering the children's age, noted Kalo.
Parents have been sent messages asking them to talk to their children about what happened and information on where to get crisis assistance.
Crisis support has been organized in schools and kindergartens for both children and staff – as much as needed.
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