Two minors admit to arson-for-hire at Helsinki bicycle shop – police investigate six suspects

Two underage boys have confessed to setting fire to a bicycle shop in Helsinki’s Lauttasaari district in early March in exchange for payment, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports. Police now have six suspects linked to the case, with investigations suggesting the crime may have been politically motivated.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of March 3, caused significant damage to the building but no injuries. The two 17-year-old suspects, born in 2008 and 2009, were arrested on the day of the crime and the following day. They remain in pre-trial detention on suspicion of aggravated destruction of property.

Masi Puolakka, the lead investigator, told Yle that police are examining six individuals believed to have played different roles in the arson. A third suspect, an 18-year-old man, was also detained but has since been released.

“He is suspected of receiving the money paid to the two who carried out the arson,” Puolakka said. Authorities have not disclosed the amount paid to the suspects, all of whom are young residents of Finland or recently turned adults.

The suspects may not know the full motive behind the crime, Puolakka explained. Organised crime networks often involve multiple participants in different roles, from recruiters to those handling payments, without full transparency.

The bicycle shop, located on the ground floor of a residential building, had no apparent financial or personal conflicts that could explain the attack. However, its owner is an active supporter of Ukraine, and the building displayed a Ukrainian flag. The shop also shares an address with the pro-Ukraine association Your Finnish Friends, raising speculation about a political motive.

“All investigative leads remain open,” Puolakka stated. “At this stage, we cannot rule out or confirm any specific motive.”

Police are collaborating with domestic and potentially international authorities as the investigation continues. The case has no confirmed links to other recent contract crimes involving minors in the Helsinki region.