Three children are wounded in gun rampage at Finland primary school

Three children have been wounded in a gun rampage at a primary school in Finland.

The incident took place at Viertolan Koulu school in Vantaa early on Tuesday, which has around 800 students, Finnish police said in a statement.

Police were called to the primary school at around 9am local time and a suspect has been detained, reports said. Locals have been told to keep away from the area. 

Police later said that three minors were injured in the attack.

‘Police are at the scene investigating the incident. Bystanders are asked to stay away from the area and indoors. The door should not be opened to strangers,’ the police said in a statement.

In addition to its 800 students, about 90 staff work at the school.

At around 10.45am local time (7.45 GMT), the school principle announced that the immediate danger to the school was over. 

Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that the school is situated across two ‘teaching points’ – Liljatie Teaching Point and Jokiranta Teaching Point.

Citing eyewitness reports, the publication reported that the shooting was likely carried out at the Jokiranta teaching point after cars and ambulances were spotted there on Tuesday morning. 

The eyewitness told Helsingin Sanomat that two ambulances and police cars left the school at around 10am local time (7am GMT).

He said there had been several police cars at the scene. 

Vantaa is found around ten miles north of Finland’s capital of Helsinki and is home to around 250,000 people.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…