Three suspects arrested in connection with attempted murder in Åland

Two Swedish citizens have been arrested in connection with an alleged attempted murder that took place in Åland a year ago. A third suspect, a Finnish citizen, has also been detained. According to Chief Investigator Matti Airaksinen from the National Bureau of Investigation, two of the suspects are being held on strong grounds for attempted murder, while the third’s detention is based on suspicions of preparing a serious crime against the person.

All suspects are adult men, and they were apprehended in April 2023. The police announced the ongoing investigation on Monday, revealing that the suspects were plotting to kill a person in Mariehamn in October 2023. Airaksinen confirmed that all suspects were present in Åland at the time of the incident.

Authorities confiscated an illegal weapon from the suspects, which was intended for the crime, although Airaksinen clarified that the weapon was not used against the intended victim. Nonetheless, he indicated that the act was perilously close to being carried out.

“There was a concrete danger that the act could have materialized,” he stated, adding that the assessment of various circumstances would be left to the preliminary charges and the trial process. Charges will be addressed in the Åland District Court, with a deadline of November 21 for filing.

The police have not commented on the relationship between the suspects and the potential victim or the motive behind the act. Additionally, the police indicated that not all individuals suspected of participating in the planning have been located, hinting at the possibility of other accomplices. Investigators were able to trace the suspects as a result of previous investigations by the Åland police, which were effectively linked to this case. The National Bureau of Investigation is collaborating closely with Åland police and Swedish authorities on the matter.