Two teens charged with planning school attack in Tampere

Prosecutors in Pirkanmaa District Court have charged two teenagers with preparing a mass attack on Tampere Vocational College, Yle reports.

A 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man are accused of preparing a serious offence against life or health. The older suspect is a student at the school, known as Tredu; the younger is not.

According to the prosecution, the pair drafted a detailed plan targeting staff and students, and possessed two shotguns and Molotov cocktails. Their alleged scheme was divided into six phases: acquiring Molotovs, locating a key to a gun cabinet, filming weapons tests, building pipe bombs, stealing weapons, and a final “day of judgment” intended to destroy the school.

Investigators say the suspects obtained or drew a floor plan of the school, marked an attack route on it, and took photographs of the intended crime scene. The prosecution claims they intended to carry out the attack either after the summer break in 2026 or as early as spring 2026.

The plot was uncovered after an external tip to police. Prosecutors argue the risk of the crime being committed was evident.

The 18-year-old faces a demand for an unconditional prison sentence, while the 16-year-old may receive a suspended term. The entire trial is being held behind closed doors because one defendant is a minor; neither may be photographed.

Both were remanded in custody earlier this year on suspicion of the offence. The 16-year-old was detained on 2 April and the 18-year-old on 28 March. Neither has prior convictions in Pirkanmaa District Court in the past decade.