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Finland killings: Knifeman 'targeted women in Turku terror attack' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Police in Finland say a knifeman who killed two people in the south-western city of Turku on Friday appeared to choose women as targets. | |
They are treating the attack as a terrorist incident. | |
The suspect, arrested after being shot by police, is an 18-year-old Moroccan. Four other Moroccans have been held. | |
The two people stabbed to death were both Finnish. Eight people were also injured, among them a Briton, a Swede and an Italian. | |
The ages of the casualties ranged from 15 to 67, police said, but gave no more details. | |
Unconfirmed reports say six of the wounded were women. | |
Police said in a statement: "The act had been investigated as murder, but during the night we received additional information which indicates that the criminal offences are now terrorist killings." | Police said in a statement: "The act had been investigated as murder, but during the night we received additional information which indicates that the criminal offences are now terrorist killings." |
They said the identity of the 18-year-old Moroccan was known, but they have not released it. | They said the identity of the 18-year-old Moroccan was known, but they have not released it. |
At a later press briefing, they said the suspect had arrived in Finland in 2016 and had "been part of the asylum process". | |
In addition to the four other arrests, an international search warrant has been issued for a sixth suspect. | |
The 18-year-old Moroccan is still being treated in hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg. Two other people are also still in hospital. | |
The UK embassy in Finland said it had "been in touch with the British national and offered consular support". | |
The attack happened in the Puutori/Market Square area of Turku. | The attack happened in the Puutori/Market Square area of Turku. |
Police said the alarm was raised at 16:02 local time (13:02 GMT) on Friday, when a man was reported to have attacked passers-by with a knife. | Police said the alarm was raised at 16:02 local time (13:02 GMT) on Friday, when a man was reported to have attacked passers-by with a knife. |
Witnesses said he then ran to a nearby square and stabbed more people before he was shot in the thigh. Police said he was arrested at 16:05. | Witnesses said he then ran to a nearby square and stabbed more people before he was shot in the thigh. Police said he was arrested at 16:05. |
Flags are being flown at half-mast in Finland, which has no past experience of jihadist attacks. | Flags are being flown at half-mast in Finland, which has no past experience of jihadist attacks. |
The interior ministry said security was being stepped up across the country. |