Helsinki man arrested for attempted murder and arson in family apartment fire
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in Helsinki on suspicion of attempted murder and arson. The alleged crimes took place in the Konala district of Helsinki in March. It is suspected that the man tried to kill his family members by starting a fire in their apartment, a crime which is believed to have been premeditated.
At the time of the fire, there were five other family members in the apartment, some of whom are minors. The exact relationship of the suspect to the occupants of the apartment has not been disclosed.
The police have suspected the man since March, but his arrest was delayed for health reasons. The fire occurred on March 7. In March, fire chief Ville Estlander evaluated that the situation was unusual due to the burns on the victims’ legs and their escape from the balcony. Usually, injuries in apartment fires are limited to smoke inhalation.
The police are continuing the investigation. The deadline for filing charges is at the end of August.