Man charged in Rovaniemi samurai sword attack struck wrong person and called ambulance for victim

Three men face attempted murder charges after a samurai sword attack in Rovaniemi last month, with the court hearing that the assault was a case of mistaken identity linked to a drug debt, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The incident occurred in the early hours of March 13 outside the Pisto restaurant in central Rovaniemi, where a 30-year-old man struck another man with a katana—a traditional Japanese samurai sword—causing serious injuries. After the attack, the assailant himself called emergency services for the victim.

Prosecutors allege the attack stemmed from a 30-gram amphetamine debt. The intended target, who had received the drugs but failed to pay, was believed to be inside the restaurant. Two of the accused lured a man outside, while the third struck him with the sword. All three—aged 20, 30, and 38—now face charges of attempted murder, with secondary charges including aggravated assault and preparation of a serious violent crime.

The trial, underway at the Lapland District Court, is scheduled to last two days. Today’s proceedings include testimony from the victim and the accused, while witnesses will be heard on Wednesday. The attack was captured on surveillance footage.