Cities Kitee and Nurmes close town halls due to safety threats in Finland

Concerns over threats and unauthorized individuals have led two cities near the eastern border of Finland to permanently close the doors of their town halls. “Unfortunately, there have been instances of individuals without legitimate reasons being present at the town hall, and we haven’t been able to determine who they are,” said Tuula Korpi, the administrative manager of Kitee.

Located in North Karelian, Kitee sits 20 kilometers from the Russian border. The city has had to remove unauthorized visitors from its premises. At the end of October, Kitee’s town hall will relocate to a new, safer building, with administrative offices placed on the second floor behind locked doors and appointments.

Similarly, in Nurmes, approximately 200 kilometers further north, access will also be restricted. Nurmes has seen instances of disruptive behavior, with the local newspaper Karjalainen reporting threats against city officials over the past year. Several years ago, a bomb threat was made against the Nurmes town hall. “Nurmes is not a haven of peace. We are closing our doors to improve the safety and security of city employees,” stated administrative director Leena Timonen.

According to the Association of Finnish Municipalities, the general safety situation is influencing the need to protect against and limit access to administrative buildings. Ari Korhonen, the association’s development manager, noted that these incidents are isolated and not reflective of a broader trend. In 2022, a study revealed an increase in threats and violent situations within social and health services, and educational institutions, but noted no significant rise in violence directed at municipal leadership.

As more municipalities consider restricting access to administrative buildings, Korhonen mentioned that factors beyond safety concerns, such as shifts in customer service and the prevalence of remote work, may also play a role.