Hundreds of children were panicked at their middle school in
Kirkkonummi in southern Finland Friday after learning of an online
threat that their school would be the next target for a school
shooting, Finnish media reported.
On Wednesday, 18-year-old Pekka-Eric Auvinen killed six fellow
students, the school's principal and nurse at Jokela School in
Tuusula in southern Finland. Auvinen shot himself in the head and
died late Wednesday.
"Yesterday, there was a threat on the internet. Someone posted a
note with the username Sturmgeist, saying that the next target
would be Kirkkonummi Middle School," Maarit Rossi, principal of
Kirkkoharju Middle School in Kirkkonummi, said.
"Sturmgeist89" was Auvinen's YouTube username.
The school's principal Maarit Rossi said students were informed
in class of the threat against their school. Students were allowed
to leave with parental permission and regular classes were
suspended.
Police said they are investigating who posted the message and
are continuing to monitor the school.
Meanwhile, there was a false rumour circulating in Tuusula that
Hyryla School located in the south of the town, could have been
facing a Jokela-like situation. The rumour, which police have
confirmed as false, caused panic throughout the community.
Auli Ruhtinas, principal of Hyryla School, said school personnel
could not find any evidence of threats against it online. Classes
have continued as usual.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2007)
