Finnish police said on Wednesday the motive for a school shooting on the outskirts of Helsinki on Tuesday, in which one 12-year-old died, was bullying.
"The suspect has said during interrogations that he was the target of bullying, and this information has also been confirmed in the preliminary investigation by the police," police said in a statement.
A 12-year-old suspected of shooting dead a boy at his school and seriously wounding two girls was motivated by bullying, Finnish police say.
The boy was detained some distance from his school in Vantaa on Tuesday morning an hour after he opened fire on other children.
His three victims were also aged 12. The two girls are still in hospital.
Public buildings across Finland lowered their flags from 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday to mark a day of mourning.
In a statement, police said the boy had been transferred at the start of this year to Viertola school in Vantaa, to the north of the capital, Helsinki.
They said the suspect told them he had been bullied after he was detained in the Siltamaki area of northern Helsinki, almost 4km (2.5 miles) from the scene of the shooting.
Their initial investigation supported that conclusion, they added.
Police have opened an investigation into murder and attempted murder.
However, because of his age, the suspect cannot be held criminally responsible and has now been handed to the care of social services.
Police also revealed the suspect had threatened students on their way to school in the Siltamaki area.
According to Finnish TV channel MTV Uutiset, he wore a mask and noise-cancelling headphones while carrying out the shooting at Viertola school.
The school was open on Wednesday, but Katri Kalske, the deputy mayor of Vantaa, said that it would close earlier than usual
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@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
In what ways can students contribute to creating a safer school environment to prevent extreme incidents like shootings?
@9LB7SFW2yrs2Y
I feel like everyone could try to be kind to everyone and open to talk if anyone feels alone and sad.
@9LB7DX42yrs2Y
not really important unless something major is happening
@9LB75VP2yrs2Y
We need stricter gun regulations. At the very least further background checks. While I am not against owning firearms, there do need to be further restrictions to prevent the mentally-ill from obtaining one.
@N0minati0n1987Socialist2yrs2Y
Bullying leaves lifelong marks, it kills people, literally
@PepperPeteRepublican2yrs2Y
Uncontrolled anger is the motive. It's NOT the victims' fault! Stop blaming the victims' actions or behaviors for being killed.
The Violence Project database indicates that in the 21st century all K12 Mass shooters had been bullied.
But bullying has existed in K12 schools from the beginning.
Before Columbine, bullying did not translate into shooting rampages. Columbine popularized this motivation and process.
@DolphinRonniePatriot2yrs2Y
Show the percentage of mass shooters who claim to be the sex that they're not relative to their percentage of the population.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Should the age of the individual involved change how we view and address the consequences of such violent actions?
@9LB78TRLibertarian2yrs2Y
The younger someone is the less informed and mature decisions they can make but the severity of the crime also falls into question
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
If a student is being bullied and feels unheard, what steps should they take to ensure their voice is heard?
@9LB9Q8B2yrs2Y
Start a lawsuit or undergo correct legal practices after consulting the school's implemented systems.
So stop bullying leads to less school shootings. Seems like this is what everyone can agree on. Democrats and Republicans.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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