Finnish court dismisses attempted murder charges against teens in Vantaa arson case

A district court in Helsinki has dismissed attempted murder charges against two teenage boys accused of setting fire to an apartment building stairwell in Vantaa’s Korso district in December, public broadcaster Yle reports.

One of the boys was convicted of aggravated criminal damage for the arson attack, which caused significant property damage but no injuries. The court ruled that while the fire posed a serious risk to life, prosecutors had not proven intent to kill.

The boys, aged 15 and 16 at the time, had allegedly been paid to start the fire as retaliation for a drug debt. One admitted to the arson but denied attempted murder; the other denied both charges.

The court sentenced one boy to three years and nine months in juvenile detention for aggravated drug offenses and firearms violations. The second received two years and seven months for aggravated criminal damage and drug crimes.

Five other defendants—three men and two juveniles—received sentences ranging from one year to five years for roles in the case, including drug trafficking, aggravated burglary, and robbery. Prosecutors had argued the teens were directed by adults in committing the crime, marking what police called the first known case in Finland of minors being recruited for such a serious offense.