This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7632661.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Finnish deaths spark gun law call | Finnish deaths spark gun law call |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Finland's prime minister has called for gun laws to be tightened after a school shooting that left 11 people dead. | Finland's prime minister has called for gun laws to be tightened after a school shooting that left 11 people dead. |
| Matti Vanhanen said Finland should consider banning private handguns. | Matti Vanhanen said Finland should consider banning private handguns. |
| On Tuesday Matti Juhani Saari shot nine students and a teacher at a college in the western town of Kauhajoki, before turning his gun on himself. | |
| He was questioned by police a day earlier after posting on the internet a video clip of himself at a shooting range, but was not detained. | He was questioned by police a day earlier after posting on the internet a video clip of himself at a shooting range, but was not detained. |
| Flags are flying at half-mast across Finland in a day of national mourning for the victims of the shooting. | |
| In Kauhajoki, grieving residents placed candles and flowers outside the college as police started lifting some of the cordons. | In Kauhajoki, grieving residents placed candles and flowers outside the college as police started lifting some of the cordons. |
| Mr Vanhanen visited the town to offer support to a small quiet community, shell-shocked by what had happened. | Mr Vanhanen visited the town to offer support to a small quiet community, shell-shocked by what had happened. |
| Valid licences | Valid licences |
| "We have to tighten the law significantly," the prime minister said. | "We have to tighten the law significantly," the prime minister said. |
| "In terms of handguns that can easily be carried about, we have to think about whether they should be available for private people. In my opinion, they belong on shooting ranges." | "In terms of handguns that can easily be carried about, we have to think about whether they should be available for private people. In my opinion, they belong on shooting ranges." |
| SCHOOL SHOOTINGS Tuusula, Finland, November 2007 - nine dead, including gunmanVirginia Tech, US, April 2007 - 33 dead, including gunmanErfurt, Germany, April 2002 - 18 dead, including gunmanColumbine school, Denver, US, April 1999 - 15 dead including two gunmenDunblane, Scotland, March 1996 - 16 children, one teacher and gunman dead Timeline of school shootings Profile: Finnish school gunmanIn pictures: Finnish shootingFocus on gun law | SCHOOL SHOOTINGS Tuusula, Finland, November 2007 - nine dead, including gunmanVirginia Tech, US, April 2007 - 33 dead, including gunmanErfurt, Germany, April 2002 - 18 dead, including gunmanColumbine school, Denver, US, April 1999 - 15 dead including two gunmenDunblane, Scotland, March 1996 - 16 children, one teacher and gunman dead Timeline of school shootings Profile: Finnish school gunmanIn pictures: Finnish shootingFocus on gun law |
| Tuesday's shooting echoed another in November last year in the town of Tuusula, which left eight people and the lone gunman dead. | Tuesday's shooting echoed another in November last year in the town of Tuusula, which left eight people and the lone gunman dead. |
| Both gunmen had valid licences. | Both gunmen had valid licences. |
| Although Finland said it would consider new laws after that attack, no changes have been made and 15-year-olds can still own guns. | Although Finland said it would consider new laws after that attack, no changes have been made and 15-year-olds can still own guns. |
| The country has a long tradition of hunting and weapons-bearing, with about 1.6 million firearms in private hands - third in the world behind only the US and Yemen, studies say. | The country has a long tradition of hunting and weapons-bearing, with about 1.6 million firearms in private hands - third in the world behind only the US and Yemen, studies say. |
| Mr Vanhanen said: "The question is what kind of guns should be available with a licence. After these incidents, we have to discuss whether handguns should be legal." | Mr Vanhanen said: "The question is what kind of guns should be available with a licence. After these incidents, we have to discuss whether handguns should be legal." |
| Questions will also be raised about the police handling of the case and the role of the internet. | Questions will also be raised about the police handling of the case and the role of the internet. |
| Saari, 22, was questioned on Monday but police said the videos "did not threaten anyone" directly. | Saari, 22, was questioned on Monday but police said the videos "did not threaten anyone" directly. |
| Mr Vanhanen said authorities would also look at whether there needed to be changes in internet monitoring. | Mr Vanhanen said authorities would also look at whether there needed to be changes in internet monitoring. |
| He said: "The internet and YouTube forums... are not another planet. This is part of our world and we adults have the responsibility to check what is happening, and create borders and safety there." | He said: "The internet and YouTube forums... are not another planet. This is part of our world and we adults have the responsibility to check what is happening, and create borders and safety there." |
| Saari posted several videos. One, which emerged on Tuesday, showed him saying to the camera "you will die next", followed by three gun shots. | Saari posted several videos. One, which emerged on Tuesday, showed him saying to the camera "you will die next", followed by three gun shots. |
| Police said they had found a note in Saari's flat explaining his actions. | Police said they had found a note in Saari's flat explaining his actions. |
| The head of the police investigation, Jari Neulaniemi, said: "In the note he said he hated mankind and the human race. And that he had been planning this since 2002." | The head of the police investigation, Jari Neulaniemi, said: "In the note he said he hated mankind and the human race. And that he had been planning this since 2002." |
| 'Constant shooting' | 'Constant shooting' |
| The attack in Kauhajoki, some 330km (205 miles) north of the capital, Helsinki, started just before 1100 local time (0800 GMT). FINLAND'S GUN CULTURE 1.6m firearms in private handsOnly the US and Yemen have higher civilian gun ownershipAll gun owners are required to have a licenceMinimum age for buying a gun is 15About 14% of homicides in Finland are gun-related | |
| Mr Neulaniemi said nine victims had been found in one classroom. Another was discovered injured in a corridor and later died in hospital. | |
| Eight of the dead were female students, investigators said. All 10 victims also had severe burns because the attacker set fire to the classroom. Another female student was seriously wounded. | |
| Saari shot himself in the head and later died in hospital. | |
| Saari, dressed in black and wearing a ski mask, was seen entering the building with a large bag. | Saari, dressed in black and wearing a ski mask, was seen entering the building with a large bag. |
| School caretaker Jukka Forsberg told AFP news agency that two girls had told him a man was shooting. | School caretaker Jukka Forsberg told AFP news agency that two girls had told him a man was shooting. |
| "I saw a guy leaving a big black bag in the corridor and going into classroom number three and closing the door," he said. | "I saw a guy leaving a big black bag in the corridor and going into classroom number three and closing the door," he said. |
| "I looked through the window and he immediately shot at me... Thank God I was not hit, he fired at me but I was running zigzag. I ran for my life." | "I looked through the window and he immediately shot at me... Thank God I was not hit, he fired at me but I was running zigzag. I ran for my life." |
| Are you in Kauhajoki? Did you witness the incident? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Kauhajoki? Did you witness the incident? Send us your comments using the form below: |