There are still many unknown things related to the Vantaa school shooting. However, on Wednesday, for example, the shooter’s motive and class size became clear.
On Wednesday, the authorities received new information about the school shooting that happened at Viertola school in Vantaa.
A 12-year-old boy was killed and two girls of the same age were seriously injured on Tuesday morning when a boy of the same age opened fire in a classroom. The injured are still in hospital.
On Wednesday afternoon, the city of Vantaa organized a press conference about what happened. At the event, it was told about the continuation of school work and crisis support. Representatives of the city, the welfare district and the police will be present at the information conference organized in the afternoon.
Iltalehti has listed less than five questions, for which more information was received on Wednesday.
1. School bullying as a motive
The shooter is a 12-year-old boy. He is suspected of murder, two counts of attempted murder and unlawful threats.
The police in East Uusimaa said on Wednesday that the school shooting was caused by bullying. A 12-year-old boy has admitted the act. He has told the police during interrogations that he was bullied. The information has been confirmed in the preliminary investigation by the police.
At the information conference organized in Vantaa, it was asked whether the school knew about the bullying experienced by the author. Director of basic education in the city of Vantaa Ilkka Kalo told the media that the matter cannot be commented on, but that the police are responsible for informing.
– The police informs and investigates these motive matters, and we cannot take a position on them, says Kalo.
2. The shooter was new to the class
At the press conference, it was revealed that the perpetrator has moved to the city of Vantaa from another city. He had started school on January 8.
– From that moment to this moment, there are 11 school weeks. During this time, there is no specific information and beyond this we cannot comment on anything related to investigative reasons, says Kalo.
The police said on Tuesday that the boy has not been in contact with the authorities before. So far, there is no information about the author’s early childhood or other more detailed backgrounds.
3. This is a normal school class
The candles were buried in the snow on Wednesday morning in front of Viertola school. Jani Korpela
The shooter studied in a regular general education class, Kalo, head of basic education, commented at the press conference.
There are two teachers in the partially combined classes, and there is a lot of cooperation between the classes.
– There are 38 students and 2 adults in the class. That’s an average amount, says Kalo.
The Viertola school also has a special psychiatric class, but this class has nothing to do with the school shooting.
4. Reason for parents’ long wait for situational information
Yle reported on Tuesday that some of the parents of Viertola school students had been waiting for hours for information about what the situation was like at the school and how their child was doing.
According to Yle, some parents were on the spot relying only on media information, and some were unable to contact the child. Many had time to receive messages from their children, in which they had said that they were fine.
Kalo says that the police have an information responsibility in events like this. The police make decisions related to safety.
– The time has come when the police take security measures. That time has been long for the parents, says Kalo.
Yesterday, at the same time as the shooting, a denial-of-service attack took place, which temporarily interrupted the sending of Wilma messages.
– This is part of the reason why it took longer to send the messages.
5. How did the next school day go?
On Wednesday, Viertola’s school had a shortened school day. Tomorrow is also a shortened day and next Monday the school will go back to the normal rhythm.
During the first lesson, a moment of silence was held to honor the deceased student. According to Kalo, the aim is to have two adults, a teacher and a crisis worker, present in each class.
Considering the situation, the well-being of the students was good and the atmosphere was calm. He says that especially the first and second graders had a lot of questions.
– The younger students talked for a long time, and wanted to talk a lot.
According to Kalo, the school had an almost normal number of students on Wednesday. On average, about 10 percent of the students were absent from school.
– For example, in a class with 21 students, 18 of them arrived at school today. Among other things, visual arts and sports were organized at the school today, says Kalo.
Different parties at the press conference
In addition to Kalo, the information conference organized in Vantaa was attended by the Deputy City Director of Education and Learning of the City of Vantaa Katri KalskeDirector of Basic Education Ilkka Kalo and Director of Youth Services Hannu Rusama.
The director of youth and family services from the welfare region of Vantaa and Kerava participated in the information session Hanna Mikkonen and the head of social and crisis emergency services Henna Niskanen.
The crime commissioner, police coordinator was also there Sami Heikkilä.
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