Police link eight Espoo beach attacks to a chance youth gathering

Hundreds of young people gathered at Haukilahti beach in Espoo in late August, and eight violent incidents followed over two days. Police say there is no indication the events were planned, Yle reports.

The suspected offenders and victims were mostly aged 15 to 18. West Uusimaa Police are continuing to investigate the incidents, which took place on August 28 and 29.

Detective Chief Inspector Tanja Taulo said the police had collected evidence and interviewed people involved. On Monday, police released a photograph of one suspect, who has now been identified.

Police investigations cover suspected assault, aggravated assault and robbery. Taulo said hundreds, possibly more than 1,000, young people had gathered at the beach, drawn mainly by the good weather and the pleasant surroundings. Police had not anticipated the numbers or provided sufficiently visible supervision, she said, allowing the situation to escalate.

Taulo said youth crime had taken a worrying direction over the past decade, with violence becoming markedly more brutal. She added that young people could behave differently in groups, where excesses could be severe.

As autumn has arrived, young people in the area have moved their gatherings indoors, including to shopping centres. Police have not linked those gatherings to disturbances.