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Finland shootings leave six dead Finland shootings leave six dead
(about 1 hour later)
Finnish police have confirmed they have found the body of a gunman responsible for killing five people in a shooting rampage in the southern city of Espoo.Finnish police have confirmed they have found the body of a gunman responsible for killing five people in a shooting rampage in the southern city of Espoo.
Investigators said 43-year-old Ibrahim Shkupolli shot dead three men and a woman with a 9mm pistol at a grocery shop inside the Sello shopping centre.Investigators said 43-year-old Ibrahim Shkupolli shot dead three men and a woman with a 9mm pistol at a grocery shop inside the Sello shopping centre.
One of the shop's employees, Shkupolli's ex-girlfriend, was later found dead at a flat in the city. The body of Shkupolli's ex-girlfriend, who also worked at the shop, was later found dead at a flat in the city.
The incident is Finland's third major shooting in the past two years.The incident is Finland's third major shooting in the past two years.
My parents were just going up the escalator from the first floor when police started shouting at them to get out of the building AnttiBBC reader, Espoo class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8436491.stm">Profile: Ibrahim Shkupolli Police were first notified about the shooting inside the Prisma grocery store at 1008 local time (0808 GMT) on Thursday.
Local police were first notified about Thursday's shooting inside the Prisma grocery store at 1008 local time (0808 GMT). Shkupolli eventually returned home and turned the gun on himself class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8436491.stm">Profile: Ibrahim Shkupolli
A witness told Finland's state broadcaster, YLE, that the gunman appeared to have opened fire at random. A witness told Finland's state broadcaster, YLE, that the gunman was dressed in black and appeared to have opened fire at random, hitting one man in the head and a woman in the stomach.
The victims were aged 27, 40, 42 and 45, and worked at the shopping centre, police said. The victims were Prisma employees aged 27, 40, 42 and 45. Two were shot on the shop's first floor, the other two on its second floor, police said.
Another witness said chaos had ensued after the shots were heard. Another witness said chaos had ensued after the first shots were heard.
"There were loads of people who were crying, and many vendors who were completely panicked," the witness told Finnish radio. "There were loads of people who were crying, and many salespeople who were completely panicked," the witness told Finnish radio.
The gunman was later seen walking towards another shop. The gunman was later seen walking towards another shop. He then disappeared, sparking a major manhunt. The shopping centre was evacuated and cordoned off by armed police, and trains were not allowed to stop at the nearby Leppavaara railway station.
Police named the gunman as Ibrahim Shkupolli, who has a criminal record 'Domestic' motive
A fifth victim, a Prisma employee identified by YLE as Mr Shkupolli's ex-girlfriend, was later found dead at a flat on the outskirts of Espoo. Investigators said the killing was believed to have had a "domestic" motive, and that there had been a restraining order in place against Mr Shkupolli. At a later news conference, police announced a Prisma employee had also been found dead at her flat in the outskirts of the city. It later emerged that the victim was Shkupolli's ex-girlfriend.
When police then went to Mr Shkupolli's flat, they found his body. Investigators said they believed her killing had a "domestic" motive, and that there had been a restraining order in place.
"The four victims in the shopping centre were, in a way, outsiders. It looks like the incident is linked to the fifth victim," Chief Inspector Jukka Kaski told a news conference."The four victims in the shopping centre were, in a way, outsiders. It looks like the incident is linked to the fifth victim," Chief Inspector Jukka Kaski told a news conference.
"She seems to have been the gunman's main target and the whole shooting is tied up with the relationship between her and the gunman," he added."She seems to have been the gunman's main target and the whole shooting is tied up with the relationship between her and the gunman," he added.
The Sello centre remains cordoned off, and trains are not stopping at the local railway station. Ambulances and police are still outside. Shkupolli then returned to his own home and turned the gun on himself, police said.
Shkupolli was an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo who moved to Finland in 1990, shortly after which he began a relationship with the woman found dead on Thursday, according to Finnish media reports.
Their relationship broke down for the final time last year, when she told police he had threatened to kill her. A restraining order against him was later granted by a local court.
Shkupolli, who worked for a warehousing company organising deliveries to the Prisma shop, was reportedly also married to a woman of Albanian descent, with whom he had a family.
He had a previous conviction for causing bodily harm and had twice been fined for illegal possession of a handgun, in 2003 and 2007, according to YLE.
Gun laws tightenedGun laws tightened
There is a long tradition of hunting in Finland, which has vast areas of forest and wilderness, but until recently gun crime has been rare.There is a long tradition of hunting in Finland, which has vast areas of forest and wilderness, but until recently gun crime has been rare.
But two deadly shootings in recent years focused attention on gun laws in a country where young people were permitted to own and use a firearm at 15 years of age if they had parental consent.But two deadly shootings in recent years focused attention on gun laws in a country where young people were permitted to own and use a firearm at 15 years of age if they had parental consent.
My parents were just going up the escalator from the first floor when police started shouting at them to get out of the building AnttiBBC reader, Espoo
In November 2007, an 18-year-old went on a gun rampage at his school in Tuusula, killing seven pupils and a teacher, before turning the gun on himself. He had posted a video warning of the attack on the internet.In November 2007, an 18-year-old went on a gun rampage at his school in Tuusula, killing seven pupils and a teacher, before turning the gun on himself. He had posted a video warning of the attack on the internet.
Then, in September 2008, a 22-year-old trainee chef killed 10 people at a college before killing himself.Then, in September 2008, a 22-year-old trainee chef killed 10 people at a college before killing himself.
He, too, had put a video on the internet showing himself shooting a gun. After doing that he was interviewed by police, but they decided it was not sufficient reason to revoke his gun licence.He, too, had put a video on the internet showing himself shooting a gun. After doing that he was interviewed by police, but they decided it was not sufficient reason to revoke his gun licence.
After the second attack, stricter rules on permits for pistols and revolvers were introduced.After the second attack, stricter rules on permits for pistols and revolvers were introduced.
Handgun permits would no longer be granted to first-time applicants, the interior ministry said.Handgun permits would no longer be granted to first-time applicants, the interior ministry said.
Instead, they must train for at least a year at a gun club before being allowed to apply for a permit.Instead, they must train for at least a year at a gun club before being allowed to apply for a permit.
All applicants must also provide a note from a doctor about their mental health and sit an interview with police.All applicants must also provide a note from a doctor about their mental health and sit an interview with police.
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