Student killed in school shooting in Finland

Multiple victims and the suspect are all 12 years old, according to the police

A student has been killed and two others injured in a school shooting near the Finnish capital Helsinki, local police have reported, adding that the victims and the suspected perpetrator are all 12 years old.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning at a lower secondary school in the city of Vantaa, just to the north of Helsinki. Police said they had been alerted to the shooting just after 9am and arrested a suspect in the capital soon afterwards.

One student died at the scene while two others were rushed to hospital, according to an update from law enforcement issued several hours after the shooting. Initial reports said three students had been injured.

The unnamed suspect is a student at the school and had a handgun in their possession. Officers seized the weapon and took the apparent shooter into custody.

According to the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper, law enforcement initially stated the age of the victims as 13, but later corrected that information. Students and teachers at the facility had been told by officers to take shelter and await instructions, the report added. Further updates are expected later on Tuesday.