Police detain man carrying long-barrelled weapon in western Finland

Finnish police detained a man in Kauhajoki, western Finland, on Wednesday after he was seen walking along a road carrying a long-barrelled weapon, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Authorities launched a police operation in the Aronkylä area of Kauhajoki at around 12:52 PM following an emergency call about a man openly carrying the weapon. Multiple patrol units responded to the scene as a precautionary measure, equipped with necessary protective gear.

The first police unit arrived at 1:07 PM, and within half an hour, officers located and detained a roughly 20-year-old man with a foreign background without resistance. Though the man was not in possession of the weapon at the time of arrest, it was later found nearby in the surrounding area.

Police confirmed there was no threat to bystanders during the incident. The man was taken into custody for further investigation, with preliminary charges including possession of a dangerous object and public order violations. Additional charges may be added as the investigation progresses.