Police apprehend man in Helsinki after weapon sighting in Kamppi
Police detained a 35-year-old man in central Helsinki on Tuesday after receiving a report of an armed individual near the Kamppi shopping center. The incident prompted a swift response from multiple police patrols, which tracked and apprehended the suspect approximately 15 minutes after the initial emergency call.
The weapon in question was later identified as an airsoft gun, which authorities confiscated. Yle reports that the man is suspected of possessing an object or substance suitable for causing serious harm to another person. According to police, the situation did not pose a danger to bystanders at any point.
The emergency center received the report at around 11:55 AM, with the suspect reportedly moving in the vicinity of Kamppi. Ilta-Sanomat notes that the firearm was a replica, though police initially treated the case as a potential threat, emphasizing the necessity of preparing for real firearms in such situations.
Police continue to investigate the sequence of events. Authorities also reminded the public that possessing objects that misleadingly resemble firearms is prohibited in public spaces.