Four police officers face charges over explosive incident in Ostrobothnia, Finland

Four police officers from the Ostrobothnia region are facing charges of occupational safety violations related to a rare explosive incident that occurred over three years ago. A preparatory hearing for the case took place at the District Court of Ostrobothnia in Kokkola on Monday.

The incident involved two officers who were injured during a training exercise in Lohtaja, Kokkola, when explosives intended for disposal detonated prematurely. One officer sustained serious injuries, including damage to his eyes, hands, legs, and face, while the other suffered minor injuries. The severely injured officer is seeking approximately €35,000 in compensation for pain and suffering stemming from the incident. He has incurred permanent injuries and has been unable to return to his previous duties, undergoing multiple surgeries and a continuous medical leave exceeding 16 months. The less severely injured officer reported experiencing acute stress reaction after the incident, describing the situation as traumatic, akin to wartime trauma.

The prosecutor is requesting fines for the officers related to bodily injury, occupational safety violations, and breach of duty. However, charges of occupational safety violations and bodily injury have been dropped for one officer.

According to the indictment, there were significant deficiencies in the explosive operations, indicating breaches of safety regulations and a failure to adequately assess risks. One officer allegedly did not create the required explosive disposal or safety plan, while another failed to ensure necessary protective equipment was used during training. Guidelines for the explosive work were also deemed insufficient.

Additionally, the prosecutor is seeking a €15,000 corporate fine for the Ostrobothnia Police Department, citing a lack of due diligence in preventing the incident. Deficiencies in delegating safety responsibilities reportedly led to neglect in training and supervision, particularly in the areas of monitoring, alert systems, crime prevention, and permit services. The police officers have denied any wrongdoing. The main hearing is set to take place later this year.