Two young men suspected of arson in downtown Pori, Finland

Two young men, believed to be in their twenties, are under suspicion for arson, which posed an explosion risk in the downtown area of Pori, Finland. The suspects allegedly unlawfully entered a sales tent at Pori’s market square around midnight between Thursday and Friday, where they are suspected of setting the tent on fire.

Fortunately, the fire was extinguished quickly, and the potential explosion could have caused significant damage to the surrounding area, said Crime Commissioner Antti Alitalo from the Southwest Finland Police Department. Alitalo, who is serving as the acting head of the investigation, noted that the area is dense with buildings, pedestrian traffic, and parked vehicles.

According to a police statement, firefighters discovered gas canisters within the tent while extinguishing the flames. After necessary safety measures were taken, the canisters were removed from the scene. Preliminary investigations suggest that the arsonists intentionally attempted to cause the gas canisters to explode.

The suspects fled the scene toward the terrace of a restaurant on Yrjönkatu before walking down the pedestrian street toward the shopping center. The police have conducted a crime scene investigation at the site and are continuing the inquiry into the suspected arson. During the incident, the suspects also stole food items from the tent.

One of the men is described as tall and of normal build, wearing a sweatshirt, while the other is shorter, dressed in black, sporting a beard, and was seen carrying a black garbage bag. The police have not yet located either individual. To assist in solving the case, the police urge anyone with information about the described individuals to reach out via email at [email protected] or send a WhatsApp message to 050 411 7655.