Police shoot man brandishing gun in Helsinki

Police shoot man brandishing gun in HelsinkiPolice in downtown Helsinki have shot a gun-wielding man because of his erratic behavior.

The incident occurred on the Baana pedestrian and cycling path at approximately 11am on Sunday morning. The man, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, is recovering in hospital.

Helsinki Police Commissioner Juha Tuomela explained that the police had no choice but to fire at him because he refused orders to drop his gun and may have been in possession of another weapon. He added that the man will face charges of being in possession of a lethal weapon and violently resisting authorities.

One witness said that the man’s calf was bleeding heavily, and that he also had two knives.

Meanwhile, the night before, police arrested a 15-year-old boy who is alleged to have attacked three other youths with a knife outside the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, close by to where Sunday’s incident occurred. The three victims escaped with slight injuries. Police are carrying out an investigation into the attack.

However, Tuomela said that in spite of these two incidents, Helsinki experienced a relatively peaceful weekend.

Finns have the fourth-highest firearms ownership per capita in the world, but gun related crime is rare. However, guns are tightly regulated and gun licenses are not handed out for self defence reasons.