Mass brawl erupts in Lahti with dozens involved

Police in Lahti are investigating a large-scale brawl involving dozens of people in the city center’s Paasikivenaukio square, first reported shortly after noon on Saturday.

Authorities suspect the participants were supporters of football clubs HJK and FC Lahti, ahead of the teams’ match later in the afternoon at Lahti Stadium.

Multiple Häme Police patrols remain at the scene, with several arrests made. Those detained are suspected of multiple counts of assault and illegal masking. Some participants had covered their faces, and flares were lit while objects were thrown during the altercation.

Commissioner Elina Katajamäki said an ambulance was on-site to assess potential injuries, though the number of wounded or the severity of their conditions remains unclear. She added the investigation could take hours.

Katajamäki noted police had allocated significant resources in anticipation of the match.