Two 14-year-old girls suspected of multiple arson attacks in Turku

Two 14-year-old girls are suspected of setting at least six fires in the Finnish city of Turku between October and February, according to a statement by Southwest Finland Police.

Police said the girls, along with a 14-year-old boy suspected in two of the cases, deliberately ignited fires at abandoned buildings, a demolition site, and a public toilet. The incidents included blazes at an empty warehouse on Ilpoistie, a decommissioned daycare on Susiniitynkatu, a parish hall demolition site in Rusthollinrinne, a wooden derelict house on Päätekatu, an outdoor toilet at a dance pavilion in Uittamo, and most recently, a vacant residential and commercial property in Ruukinrinne.

While the minors cannot face criminal prosecution under Finnish law—since they are under 15—they remain liable for damages. “The total compensation amount is still under investigation,” said Detective Chief Inspector Juhani Malmberg of the Southwest Finland Police’s preventive unit. “In the worst case, they could be financially responsible for the rest of their lives.”

The suspects were identified after concerned parents contacted authorities. “This case was resolved because parents took an interest in their children’s activities and who they spend time with,” Malmberg noted. “It’s crucial for guardians to ensure their children understand what is legal and what isn’t.”

The teens have reportedly confessed to the crimes.