Global InformationReactions to the Kauhajoki school shooting information
The response to a school shooting that occurred at the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in Kauhajoki,[1] a city in Western Finland, on 23 September 2008[1] was widespread. In the shooting, 22-year-old culinary arts student Matti Juhani Saari shot and killed ten people before committing suicide.[1] Eight people had been killed ten months before in the Jokela school shooting in southern Finland.[2]
The Government of Finland held a crisis meeting, and declared a national day of mourning for September 24, with ministers agreeing that Finland's laws pertaining to gun ownership should be reviewed. Suggestions included introducing legislation to aid police officers in accessing information about the mental and physical health of applicants for firearms licenses, and the right to request further information if the applicant had a history of using medication. The question whether or not private persons should be allowed to own handguns was also raised.
The Finnish Police increased Internet surveillance, and investigated over 200 threats against schools. In November the police announced the increased surveillance had stopped a potential attack against a school.
At the affected college all lessons were cancelled for the remainder of the week, and classes were relocated to a temporary facility. The town's other schools remained open. A candlelight vigil was held near the school grounds on the day after the shooting, and Kauhajoki Church held a memorial service on the evening of September 23. The Finnish Red Cross announced that some of the proceeds from its annual fund drive would be contributed towards helping students and teachers affected by the incident.
- ^ a b c "Gunman sprayed bullets in classroom and corridor, and threw petrol bombs". Helsingin Sanomat. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ "Finnish massacres 'may be linked'". BBC News. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2009.