Oulu police review tips in cycling stabbing case

Police in Oulu are examining numerous tips about a man suspected of stabbing a foreign-born man in the city’s Kaukovainio district on Friday, Yle reports.

The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting cyclists, several of which have involved victims with foreign backgrounds. Since May 2025, four foreign-born individuals have been stabbed and one assaulted, with most incidents occurring in the past three months. Four Finnish-born women have also been assaulted.

Investigators have requested and received surveillance footage from nearby residential buildings. “We have partially obtained footage and hope for more to advance the investigation,” said Petri Savela, head of the Oulu Police Department’s investigative unit.

Police released images and video of the suspect over the weekend and asked for public tips. Authorities are investigating whether the crimes are connected and if a single perpetrator is responsible. Some incidents suggest hate crime or racist motives.

A 30-year-old man was previously detained in April in connection with a separate stabbing but was released due to insufficient evidence. Savela confirmed the man remains under investigation for that single incident but declined to specify any potential link to other cases. “We are clarifying the connections between all the crimes and possible suspects. This will become clear later,” he said.