Court to decide on detention of Tornio shooter as police investigation report nears completion

A district court in Lapland is reviewing a police request to detain a man suspected of attempting to murder officers in a shooting incident in Tornio, while a prosecutor’s preliminary inquiry into police use of firearms is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The suspect, a man in his 60s, allegedly fired multiple shots at police in the Varejärvi area of Tornio on Thursday. He is also accused of setting fire to a house where he was located during the shooting. Police suspect him of nine counts of attempted murder and one count of arson, all targeting officers at the scene.

“The pre-trial investigation is in its early stages, and the charges may change as the probe progresses,” said Jukka Nurmenniemi, lead investigator for the National Bureau of Investigation, in a statement on Friday. Authorities have not disclosed the type of firearm used, only confirming it was not a handgun.

No prior criminal cases involving the suspect as a defendant or party have been found in Lapland District Court records.

Prosecutor examines police use of force

Police responded to an emergency call in Tornio around 4 PM on Thursday, where the man reportedly acted aggressively and fired at officers. Police returned fire after he failed to comply with commands.

Under Finnish procedure, any police use of firearms in the line of duty triggers a preliminary inquiry by a prosecutor to determine whether a full investigation is warranted. In this case, senior prosecutor Jonna Ryynänen is leading the inquiry, which has so far gathered written evidence. Police officers involved have not yet been interviewed.

Ryynänen estimates the preliminary inquiry will be completed within the next few weeks.

Tags: shooting, police, crime