Man fires hunting rifle from balcony at abandoned factory in Vaasa

A 60-year-old man fired a hunting rifle from his balcony toward an abandoned soap factory in Vaasa’s Palosaari district on Saturday, where a group of young people had gathered, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle. Police will seek his detention on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder.

The derelict factory, long a gathering spot for youth, has seen escalating tensions with local residents over noise, vandalism, and safety hazards. Neighbors describe the building—slated for demolition for years—as increasingly dilapidated, with some structures at risk of collapse.

Police confirmed the suspect, who holds a legal firearm license, was intoxicated at the time of the shooting but has no prior criminal record. Investigators have not disclosed a motive.

Residents in the normally quiet Palosaari neighborhood told Yle they were shocked by the incident. Tiina Mäki, who lives adjacent to the factory, said she initially mistook the gunfire for “the usual noise from kids at the ‘soap place’” before seeing heavily armed police swarm the area. “It was terrifying,” she said.

Another long-term resident, Pertti Vuorela, recalled hearing what he thought was a loud crash before realizing police had cordoned off the street. “This makes you think—it’s awful. You can’t help but be shaken,” he said.

The factory has been a persistent concern for locals, with reports of fires—including a 2009 blaze that killed one person—and repeated vandalism. Mäki urged parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts to prevent them from endangering themselves or damaging the hazardous site.

Authorities have yet to announce plans for securing or demolishing the building, which has stood vacant for decades despite calls from residents for redevelopment.