The motive for a school shooting in Finland that left a 12-year-old boy dead was bullying, police have said.

The suspected attacker, also aged 12, was detained and taken into custody after the shooting at Viertola school in Vantaa, on the outskirts of Helsinki, on Tuesday.

Two other pupils, two girls aged 12, were also shot and seriously wounded.

“The suspect has said during interrogations that he was the target of bullying, and this information has also been confirmed in the preliminary investigation by the police,” a statement said.

The shooter and the victims were all classmates.

Some of the children reportedly hid during the attack, while others who had been contacted by their parents on mobile phones said they saw what happened.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the shooting was deeply shocking.

Taiwan: Scores trapped as video shows moment country hit by biggest earthquake in 25 years

Russia-Ukraine latest: ‘Great risk’ of Ukraine collapse as Russia prepares ‘big attack’

Middle East latest: Israel admits ‘mistake’ – as tributes paid around the world for ‘hero’ aid workers killed in strike

“My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the other students and staff,” he said on X on Tuesday.

The school, situated on the outskirts of the Finnish capital Helsinki, has around 800 students from first to ninth grade – aged seven to 16.

Candles and flowers were laid in the snow at the school as the Finnish government declared Wednesday a nationwide day of mourning.

Related posts:

Israel-Hamas ceasefire: After 11 days, time is right for both sides to claim victory Premier League alert! Lionel Messi’s contract with Barcelona ends – leaving him a free agent Russia suspended from UN’s Human Rights Council following invasion of Ukraine Clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian mourners at funeral of Al Jazeera journalist Turkey would not be ‘favourable’ to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Erdogan says Who was ‘Ringo’, the ISIS Beatle? From west London to Syria, how Elsheikh joined the deadly terrorist group Eleven children among 17 killed in Russia school shooting as wounded to be taken to Moscow Magnificent buildings in Brazil are pockmarked by rioting – amid fears the unrest may not be over Israel kills three Islamic Jihad commanders in targeted Gaza strikes PGA Tour agrees to merge with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf NATO beefs up presence in Kosovo with UK troops as tensions rise Gaston Glock, the man who developed the Glock handgun, dies