Venetian weekend celebrations in Oulu lead to over 160 police incidents

The celebration of the Venetian weekend in Oulu resulted in numerous police calls during the night from Saturday to Sunday. Over 160 incidents were reported, including the firing of fireworks, disruptive behavior, arrests of intoxicated individuals, and traffic-related issues.

According to police statements, rockets were aimed at people, buildings, and vehicles in the city center. Early in the evening, Oulu police received many reports about underage individuals shooting fireworks in public spaces such as schoolyards, parks, and bike paths, often among crowds. The police expressed significant concern over the celebrations involving minors, warning that the situation had escalated and become dangerous in some areas.

In Kiikelinsaari, reports indicated that over a thousand young people had gathered, some of whom were intoxicated, with fireworks being shot off in the darkness of the crowd. The police urged parents to take their children home.

At around 3 AM, an accident occurred near downtown Oulu when an intoxicated individual fell off an electric scooter and sustained a head injury. Upon police arrival, the injured person was found to have a low level of consciousness and registered a blood alcohol concentration of 1.52 promille. He was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.

The police highlighted the urgent need for parental involvement and community responsibility during such celebrations.