Gunman Kills 3 in Finland; Police Say No Political Motive

Gunman Kills 3 in Finland; Police Say No Political Motive
Finnish Police. Hannu Rissanen/Lehtikuva via AP
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HELSINKI—A gunman in Finland killed a local town councilor and two journalists in an apparent random shooting in a small town’s nightlife district, police said Sunday. A local man was detained on suspicion of murder.

The chairwoman of the Imatra town council and two female reporters were gunned down in a pedestrian area outside a restaurant around midnight Saturday, police spokeswoman Heli Jamsen-Turkki said. Police said two of the victims were in their early 50s and one was in her mid-30s.

Police detained a 23-year-old suspect who didn’t resist arrest. He had allegedly fired four or five shots, hitting his victims in the head and torso with a hunting rifle, authorities said.

Detective Superintendent Saku Tielinen, who is leading the investigation, said the suspect had a criminal record that included violent incidents and theft, but declined to identify him.

A candle is laid in front of the restaurant Vuoksenvahti where three women were killed, in Imatra, Finland on Dec. 4, 2016. (Hannu Rissanen/Lehtikuva via AP)
A candle is laid in front of the restaurant Vuoksenvahti where three women were killed, in Imatra, Finland on Dec. 4, 2016. Hannu Rissanen/Lehtikuva via AP