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Finland police believe Turku knife attack was terrorism Finland police believe Turku knife attack was terrorism
(about 1 hour later)
Finnish police believe Friday’s knife attack in the south-western city of Turku, in which two people were killed and eight injured, was a terrorist act.Finnish police believe Friday’s knife attack in the south-western city of Turku, in which two people were killed and eight injured, was a terrorist act.
The main suspect, an 18-year-old Moroccan national, was arrested after being shot in the thigh after the attack in a market square. He remains in intensive care.The main suspect, an 18-year-old Moroccan national, was arrested after being shot in the thigh after the attack in a market square. He remains in intensive care.
The two people killed were Finnish, while two Swedes and one Italian were among those injured.The two people killed were Finnish, while two Swedes and one Italian were among those injured.
Four of the wounded were still being treated in hospital – three in intensive care – while the rest of those injured were due to be discharged on Saturday.
Finnish police arrested five people in a Turku apartment on Friday night as part of their investigation.Finnish police arrested five people in a Turku apartment on Friday night as part of their investigation.
“There was a raid and we have now six suspects in custody, the main suspect and five others,” said Det Supt Markus Laine of the national bureau of investigation.“There was a raid and we have now six suspects in custody, the main suspect and five others,” said Det Supt Markus Laine of the national bureau of investigation.
“We are investigating the role of these five other people but we are not sure yet if they had anything to do with [the attack] … We will interrogate them, after that we can tell you more. But they had been in contact with the main suspect,” he said.“We are investigating the role of these five other people but we are not sure yet if they had anything to do with [the attack] … We will interrogate them, after that we can tell you more. But they had been in contact with the main suspect,” he said.
Reports in Finland said police believed the suspect had picked his victims at random, but Laine could not confirm that.Reports in Finland said police believed the suspect had picked his victims at random, but Laine could not confirm that.
Laura Laine, who was sitting in a cafe during one of the attacks, said: “First thing we heard was a young woman, screaming like crazy. I thought, it’s just kids having fun ... but then people started to move around and I saw a man with a knife in his hand, stabbing a woman.
“Then a person ran towards us shouting ‘he has a knife’, and everybody from the terrace ran inside. Next, a woman came in to the cafe. She was crying hysterically, down on her knees, saying ‘someone’s neck has been slashed open’.”
The centre of Turku was cordoned off after the attack, which took place just after 4pm local time, although the area was reopened several hours later. The city is a former capital of Finland and remains a business and cultural hub.The centre of Turku was cordoned off after the attack, which took place just after 4pm local time, although the area was reopened several hours later. The city is a former capital of Finland and remains a business and cultural hub.
Finland raised its emergency readiness across the country after the stabbing, increasing security at airports and train stations and putting more officers on the streets.Finland raised its emergency readiness across the country after the stabbing, increasing security at airports and train stations and putting more officers on the streets.
In June, Finland’s intelligence and security agency Supo raised the country’s terror threat level from “low” to “elevated”, the second of four levels, due to the increased risk of an attack committed by Islamic State. In June, Finland’s intelligence and security agency Supo raised the country’s terror threat level from “low” to “elevated”, the second of four levels, owing to the increased risk of an attack committed by Islamic State.
On Saturday morning, an unidentified attacker injured eight people in a knife attack in the Siberian city of Surgut. Russian police said the attacker attacked passersby in the street, and two of his victims were in serious condition in hospital. On Saturday morning, an unidentified attacker injured eight people in a knife attack in the Siberian city of Surgut. Russian police said the attacker attacked passersby in the street. Two of his victims were in serious condition in hospital.