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full screen”My thoughts go out to the victims,” says Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Archive image. Photo: Vesa Moilanen/AP/TT
Finland declares Wednesday a day of mourning with a minute’s silence and flags at half-mast after a twelve-year-old shot dead a classmate at a school in Vantaa. Two others from the class were seriously injured.
All state bodies must fly the mourning flag on Wednesday, says Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson, who also invites everyone in the country who wants to do the same.
– I hope that all of Finland is involved, she says according to HBL.
The flag-off begins at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning and continues until dusk. The Riksdag will also hold a minute’s silence on Wednesday, April 3 due to the school shooting.
On social media, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo writes about the incident:
“The shooting in Vantaa is deeply shocking. My thoughts go out to the victims, their loved ones and other students and staff at the school.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) also expresses his dismay.
“My thoughts go out to those affected, their families, students and employees at the school. I have also expressed my condolences directly to the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo,” he writes on X.