Oulu police classify stabbing incident as hate crime amid ongoing investigation
The Oulu Police Department announced shortly after a stabbing incident at Kastelli in September that there was no evidence suggesting a racist motive. However, as the investigation progressed, the case was classified as a hate crime. According to the police, it was revealed during the inquiry that “contrary to previous views, the suspect has some degree of long-standing hostile attitudes toward foreigners.” The final determination regarding any possible hate crime motive will be made by the prosecutor.
We asked the police why it was emphasized in communications that a racist motive was not suspected. Oulu Police’s crime commissioner, Tero Luukkonen, explained that this was influenced by earlier racially motivated violent crimes in the Oulu region. “Over the summer, various incidents occurred in Oulu that had quite direct indications of hate crimes, so we aimed to curb that. Everything influences everything,” Luukkonen stated.
A man allegedly stabbed a child in a shopping center in Oulu unexpectedly from behind, which was described by the Central Criminal Police as “brutal and savage.” Following the stabbing, security personnel apprehended the suspect.
Luukkonen did not wish to elaborate on the specific factors that led to the classification of the Kastelli case as a hate crime. According to police statements, indications came from the testimony of an external witness and an expert opinion, specifics of which are not currently available.
The Oulu Police District recorded the lowest number of hate crime classifications in Finland in 2023, according to the Police University College. Luukkonen remarked that this classification does not impact the investigation, adding, “It’s essentially just a tick in our reporting system. The criteria for classification are outlined in the directives of the Police Authority.” All crimes aim to determine motives, regardless of whether they are related to hate, money, revenge, or anything else, he noted. “But hate crimes are considered to require a separate classification.”