Graves of teens who drowned in Kalajoe last summer vandalised in Oulu

Five Muslim graves at Intiö cemetery in Oulu were defaced with black spray paint over the weekend, including the graves of three boys who drowned in Kalajoe last summer, Yle reports.

The Oulu Parish Union filed a police report on Monday after discovering the vandalism. Sanna-Kaisa Rivasto, head of burial services, confirmed the graves belong to the families of the deceased, making their upkeep the families’ responsibility.

In this case, however, the situation is less straightforward. If the Islamic community or the boys’ reception centre—where they lived in Finland—cannot arrange the cleaning, the parish will handle it themselves.

Rivasto condemned the act as “completely reprehensible” and described notifying those affected as “deeply saddening.”

The boys, of Somali background, drowned at Hiekkasärkkä beach in Kalajoe in late July last year. Their deaths sparked debate over swimming safety, as the beach lacked lifeguards. A later accident report by the North Ostrobothnia Rescue Department concluded that even with additional responders, the boys could not have been saved.