On 2 April 2024, a shooting occurred at the Viertola school [fi], Jokiranta site in Vantaa, Finland.

[6] It prompted the establishment of a "system of pre-emptive measures" allowing police to intervene if they received information on an "intent to stage an attack".

[11] The shooting occurred in a sixth-grade classroom in the Viertola school's Jokiranta campus.

The police eventually found the suspect in the North Helsinki neighborhood of Siltamäki and took him into custody at 09:58.

[6] Due to the suspect being a minor, he will not face criminal charges in accordance to Finnish law.

[7] National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen stated, that law enforcement had not received any information on an impending attack prior to the shooting.

[7] The Viertola school reopened on the 3rd of April[7] on reduced hours,[21] with crisis counselling sessions on offer.

[22] A national day of mourning was held on the 3rd of April, during which the flag of Finland was placed at half-mast.

[24] Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson tearfully described the shooting as a "great tragedy".

[13] Interior Minister Mari Rantanen wrote on Twitter (X) that she "can only imagine the pain and worry that many families are experiencing at the moment.

"[25] Deputy Prime Minister Riikka Purra, referring to the shooting stated, that "these kinds of incidents should never happen."

Leader of the Left Alliance and former Education Minister Li Andersson also described the incident as a major shock.