Teenager testifies in court over Vantaa arson attack: “I felt I had no choice”

A 16-year-old boy accused of attempted murder and aggravated arson in Vantaa, Finland, told a district court on Wednesday that he felt compelled to carry out the attack after receiving instructions from an adult man based abroad, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The December 2025 fire, which targeted a residential building in Vantaa’s Korso district, was allegedly ordered by a man identified only as R.M., who is currently outside Finland. According to testimony, R.M. is the half-brother of the 15-year-old co-accused. Authorities believe this is the first known case in Finland where minors have been recruited for such a serious crime.

Both the 16-year-old and a 15-year-old accomplice described similar events in court. They claimed they visited the target apartment on December 16, 2025, to surveil the building. The 16-year-old maintained a live video call with R.M. throughout, who confirmed the target’s identity when the person appeared on a balcony. The 15-year-old stated he was elsewhere and did not see the target.

The boys said they had fire-starting materials, provided by a young woman also charged in the case. She testified that R.M., whom she had known since childhood in Helsinki’s Malmi district, had asked her to obtain the supplies.

The first attempt failed when no residents entered the stairwell, prompting the teens to leave. The 15-year-old mentioned receiving multiple calls from his mother and needing to attend school the next day. They discarded masks, gloves, and gasoline under a tree in northern Helsinki before returning home.

The following day, the 16-year-old said R.M. instructed him to set the fire. “I felt I had no choice,” he told the court, adding he feared consequences if he refused. R.M. allegedly provided €400 for a taxi to retrieve the supplies and return to the scene.

The teen described lighting gasoline in the stairwell after a neighbour exited, then fleeing in the taxi without seeing the flames. The fire forced the evacuation of about 17 people. Both defendants claimed the intent was to intimidate, not kill, denying any discussion of murder or harm.

Prosecutors allege the teens were promised thousands of euros for the arson, though they deny receiving payment. The case is linked to a broader drug-related crime network with ties to Helsinki street gangs and the Swedish Foxtrot criminal organisation, led by Rawa Majid, known as “Kurdikettuna.” Prosecutor Inka Rauma stated the minors were directed in committing the crime.

Eight individuals face charges across multiple offences in the investigation.