Jokela school shooting

Coordinates: 60°32′56″N 24°57′49″E / 60.54889°N 24.96361°E / 60.54889; 24.96361
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Jokela school shooting
LocationJokela, Tuusula, Finland
Coordinates60°32′56″N 24°57′49″E / 60.54889°N 24.96361°E / 60.54889; 24.96361
DateNovember 7, 2007 (2007-11-07)
11:44–16:00[1] (UTC+2)
TargetJokela High School
Attack type
School shooting, mass murder, murder-suicide
WeaponsSIG Mosquito .22 calibre
Deaths9 (including the perpetrator)[2][3]
Injured12
PerpetratorPekka-Eric Auvinen

The Jokela school shooting occurred on 7 November, 2007, at Jokela High School (Finnish: Jokelan koulukeskus[4]), a public secondary school in the town of Jokela, part of the municipality of Tuusula, Finland. The gunman was 18-year-old Pekka-Eric Auvinen, who was one of the school's students.

Auvinen killed nine people: five male students (ages 16-18) and one female adult student (age 25);[5] the school principal, Helena Kalmi (age 61); the school nurse (age 43); and Auvinen himself.[2][3] One other person suffered gunshot wounds, and eleven people were injured by shattering glass while escaping from the school building. The morning of the incident, Auvinen posted a video on YouTube announcing the massacre at the school.

This was the second school shooting in the history of Finland. The previous incident occurred in 1989 at the Raumanmeri school in Rauma, when a 14-year-old fatally shot two fellow students.[6] Less than a year after the Jokela shooting, on 23 September, 2008, another one took place, in Kauhajoki, where a gunman shot and killed 11 people before killing himself.

The shooting

At approximately 11:40 local time (09:40 UTC), the shooter Pekka-Eric Auvinen fired his first shot. The emergency services received the first phone call at 11:43. Most victims were later found in the entrance hallway of the school. At 11:44, following the first shot, school principal Helena Kalmi ordered all students and teachers to barricade themselves in their classrooms. Instead of doing this herself, the principal placed herself in the way of the shooter and tried to compel him to surrender. Watching from their classroom window, students saw Kalmi first fleeing the attacker, but later she went back. She was shot seven times in view of a group of ninth graders (last grade of junior high school) in the school yard.[7] Later the school nurse, 43, tried to help injured students, but Auvinen shot and killed her too.[8]

The shooter then began walking around the school, knocking and pounding on classroom doors and firing through the doors and shooting people at random. He shouted orders at some of the students, proclaimed a revolution, and urged the students to destroy school property. He also pointed his gun at some people without shooting them.[9] The victims sustained multiple injuries to the upper body and head.[10] In addition, he poured two-stroke engine fuel (a gasoline and oil mixture) on corridor walls and floors, but he was not able to light it.[2]

A police patrol arrived at 11:55, followed later by about one hundred police officers at about 12:30, including the Karhuryhmä special operations unit. Even off-duty police officers arrived and surrounded the school. When the police tried to start negotiations, the shooter answered by firing a shot at the police at 12:04 local time. No officers were hit.

The attack ended after 40 minutes when Auvinen turned the gun on himself, inflicting an ultimately fatal wound to his head at 12:24. The police did not however storm the school until 1.5 hours later at 13:53, more than two hours after being alerted at 11.45. Auvinen was found in a school toilet still alive but unconscious at 13:54. The police report does not mention whether the police had ruled out the possibility of a bomb or incendiary attack when they decided not to storm the school and instead check one room at a time for other shooters. The police were not able to secure the building until shortly before 16:00. The police officers did not open fire at any time. Police later stated that some of the victims were shot up to nearly 20 times. [citation needed]

Auvinen was taken to the Töölö Hospital of the Helsinki University Central Hospital at 14:45 but died the same evening at 22:15 from his injuries.[11][12][13]

The perpetrator

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File:Jokela-school-shooter.jpg
Pekka-Eric Auvinen, from one of the videos he posted to the Internet prior to the shooting, wearing a shirt with a caption from the American television medical drama, House

The perpetrator in the shootings was Pekka-Eric Auvinen, 18 (June 4, 1989 - November 7, 2007), who was born in Tuusula, Finland to parents at least of some Mongolian origin[14], hence his visible Mongolian traits. He described himself in oxymoronic terms, such as, "a cynical existentialist, antihuman humanist, antisocial social darwinist [sic], realistic idealist and godlike atheist" on his YouTube user page Sturmgeist89.[15][16] In the investigation by the police it was confirmed that he had been a victim of school bullying for years.[17]

According to one of his teachers, he was above average academically, and took an interest in history, philosophy and both extreme right and left wing movements.[18]

He had used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) -antidepressants irregularly since he was 17 years old. These antidepressants are said to cause suicidal tendencies as a side-effect in early ages between 18-24.[19]

The Auvinen family lives in Jokela. The family comprises a father, who is a part-time musician, a mother who was a deputy member of the Tuusula municipal council,[20] and an 11-year-old brother.

Weapon acquirement

Auvinen had received his gun licence three weeks before the school shootings. He was a registered member of the Helsinki Shooting Club. A club spokesman revealed that Auvinen had only attended a single one-hour training session.[10]

The weapon, which has been described by the media as a "small-calibre handgun", was a SIG Mosquito .22 calibre pistol that had been legally obtained and registered to Auvinen on October 19. He had been given the licence since he was a member of a local shooting club and had no previous criminal record.

In Finland the police usually require a shooting hobby to begin with a .22 calibre weapon. The police cannot mandate that sports shooting should take place in a club, or even in any kind of company; in the case of relatively low risk weapons, the permit decision can be based entirely on information provided by the applicant. Membership in a shooting club is nevertheless considered a risk control. Auvinen himself wanted to buy a more powerful Beretta 9 mm pistol, but the application was rejected by police[21].

Videos and writings

Pekka-Eric Auvinen uploaded a home-made video entitled "Jokela High School Massacre - 11/7/2007" to YouTube announcing the "massacre" hours prior to the shooting. KMFDM's "Stray Bullet" was used as background music.[22] Videos of him shooting his new gun had been uploaded weeks prior to the shooting.[23] Several hours after the event, YouTube suspended some videos belonging to the username Sturmgeist89 due to relations with the shootings. [24] His previous YouTube account name was "naturalselector89", which he used from March until it was suspended in October. Many of his videos were about other shootings and violent incidents, including the Columbine High School massacre, the Waco Siege, the Tokyo sarin gas attack, and bombing during the Iraq invasion.[2]

According to his YouTube profile, his interests were natural selection and hate for humanity. He stated that he was hoping to inspire a revolution of the "small minority of strong-minded and intelligent individuals" against the "idiocracy" of the "weak-minded masses".[15] He did not want anything or anyone to be blamed for the shooting, and had planned it "in [his] own head".[25]

He left a media package on Rapidshare, a hosting site, explaining his actions and his motives for the shooting. It includes details of the attack, a manifesto, his "loves & hates", some images of himself and a video of him firing a handgun. "I am prepared to fight and die for my cause," read a posting by Sturmgeist. "I, as a natural selector, will eliminate all who I see unfit, disgraces of human race and failures of natural selection." Sturmgeist means "storm spirit" in German.[2]

Several newspapers have suggested similarities between and inspirations for Auvinen's actions in the Columbine shootings. Auvinen's YouTube videos included footage related to Columbine. The KMFDM track used in his video, "Stray Bullet", was also used on the website of Columbine shooter Eric Harris.[26]

Criminal investigation

The police found 76 shells and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at the scene. Flammable liquid was found poured on the walls and floors of the second floor, suggesting Auvinen had attempted to set the school on fire. They also found Auvinen's suicide note and began analysing his Internet postings.[27][28]

A spokesman for the cyber crime department of Helsinki police has stated that "it's highly probable that there was some form of contact between Pekka-Eric Auvinen and" the 14-year-old boy arrested in October on suspicion of planning an attack on his school in a suburb of Philadelphia.[29]

A 2,000-page police report into the shooting was released in April 2008.[30]

Responses to the incident

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 Finland – Flags were flown at half-staff on Thursday, November 8, 2007 throughout the country by officials and private entities alike and the Finnish government held a moment of silence while in session. The Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen sent "his government's heartfelt condolences", strongly noting the need of the media, the parents and the schools to discuss the incident in correct light. The Finnish National Board of Education immediately posted directions for the teachers and principals on how to discuss the shootings with pupils, alongside with shorter instructions for parents. President Tarja Halonen sent her condolences as well.[31][32][33] The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has opened a crisis center, situated in the Church of Jokela, in which professional help is administered to those afflicted by the tragedy.[34]

The Lutheran Archbishop Jukka Paarma of Turku, the Orthodox Archbishop Leo of Karelia, the Catholic Bishop Józef Wróbel of Helsinki and other church authorities have expressed their condolences to the relatives and loved ones of those who died in the massacre.[35][36][37] Throughout the country, church buildings have been open for anyone seeking pastoral care; the incident has also been a major topic in religious services, many of which have been specifically held because of the incident.

On 9 November 2007, the Finnish government decided to drop objections to the European Union directive on firearms. This will likely mandate a common European minimum age limit of 18 years for gun ownership.[38] After the decision was announced, interior minister Anne Holmlund commented through her aide that it wasn't a direct consequence of the shootings, as the directive had been prepared for a long time and "wouldn't have prevented the events anyway."[39]

On 13 November 2007, the Finnish Government announced that it would set up a "Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Jokela school shooting and events that bear relevance to the incident".[40]

According to the Finnish Ministry of Justice, a legislative process aimed at establishing an enabling Act covering the Terms of an official Investigative Commission would be finalized by the end of March 2008. The plan is to have a Final Report, covering the Jokela school shooting incident, finalized in one year. [41]

 Estonia – President Toomas Hendrik Ilves sent a message of condolences on behalf of the Estonian people to President Halonen, saying he had been shocked and saddened by the news.[42]

 Iceland – President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson sent a message of condolences on behalf of the Icelandic people to Finnish President Tarja Halonen. “On the behalf of me and the Icelandic people, I wish to expres our condolences to the Finnish people for the tragic event in Tuusula earlier today.”[43]

 Ireland – President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and a number of Irish schoolchildren expressed their condolences to Finnish President Tarja Halonen on November 12 during Halonen's state visit to the country.[44]

 Norway – King Harald V sent a message of condolences to Finnish President Tarja Halonen. “It is with deep sorrow that I have received the news of the tragic of the Jokela secondary school in Tusby yesterday, which resulted in such a meaningless loss of lives. I send you my heartfelt condolences and my sincerest sympathies to all the bereaved and the Finnish people.”[45]

 Sweden – King Carl XVI Gustaf expressed his condolences and described the shooting as a horrific affair. "Unfortunately this sort of thing is spreading around the world. That is odd," the king added at a news conference in Luleå. The Swedish TV-channel SVT 2 would also show the movie Elephant the day after the massacre but they took it off the schedule in respect to Finland. Instead, the movie Swimming Pool was shown. [46]

 European Union – President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso said in a message to the Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen that he had been "shocked and profoundly saddened to learn about the horrific campus murders." [47]

Copycat threats

In Finland

On November 9, 2007, the Finnish police rushed to three schools due to threats of attacks posted on the Internet. One of the schools was Hyrylä high school in Tuusula and the others in Kirkkonummi and Maaninka.[48] The 16-year-old boy who posted a video titled "Maaninka massacre" on YouTube was arrested on November 11. The suspect has stated that the video was a joke.[49]

Three weeks after the Jokela shootings, the Finnish police, flooded with hoax threats, made a public plea for threats against schools to cease. The police reminded prospective perpetrators of severe judicial consequences as well as of the feelings of the families touched by the Jokela events.[50]

Elsewhere

In neighbouring Sweden, two boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested in Stockholm for conspiring to murder their school's principal and janitor.[51] According to the principal, "they had spoken about and glorified Columbine High and what happened in Finland."[52]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nine Dead in School Shooting". Yle. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "Teen gunman dead from critical injuries who opened fire on Finnish classmates". CNN. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Fatal shooting at Finnish school". BBC News. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Jokelan koulukeskus literally means "Jokela School Center".
  5. ^ The Finnish Government. Finnish Government Information Eventurl=http://areena.yle.fi/toista?id=901207 (TV). Finland: YLE. Event occurs at 18:00. {{cite AV media}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonth= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "School Shootings Rare in Finland". YLE. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Rektorn sköts med sju skott". Hufvudstadsbladet. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Template:Sv
  8. ^ "School massacre: Ninth graders saw killing of school principal". Helsingin Sanomat. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Local clergy help Jokela residents cope with shooting aftermath". Helsingin Sanomat. 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-11-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Police: Gunman Acted Alone". Yle. 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Finland Declares Day of Mourning After School Murders (Update2)". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2007-11-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "Nine dead after Finland school shooting". The Age. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Teen dead who opened fire on Finnish classmates, police say". CNN. {{cite web}}: Text "Retrieved 2007-11-07" ignored (help)
  14. ^ Kainuun Sanomat, November 10, 2007
  15. ^ a b Herald Sun, Sturmgeist89's YouTube rant, November 08, 2007.
  16. ^ Dagens Nyheter, Nio dog i skolmassakern November 08, 2007.
  17. ^ "Poliisi: Auvinen oli vuosia koulukiusattu". Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  18. ^ "Eight killed in school shooting in Jokela, north of Helsinki, gunman in critical condition". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  19. ^ "Asiantuntija: Epäsäännöllinen lääkitys on riski". Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  20. ^ "Yksin viihtyvä nuorukainen rakensi oman elämänkatsomuksensa". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  21. ^ "How your gun permit applications are considered". blog.anta.net. 2007-10-21. ISSN 1797-1993. Retrieved 2007-11-08. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Lukiolaismies jätti verkkoon runsaasti tietoa tulevasta hyökkäyksestä". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  23. ^ Pre-massacre videos originally posted to the now terminated sturmgeist89 account on Youtube. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
  24. ^ "YouTube Video". Self-published. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  25. ^ "Internetissä ennakoitiin ammuskelua kirjoituksin ja videoin". Retrieved 2007-11-07.
  26. ^ Gunman kills eight at Finnish school after YouTube threat | video - World news - News - Belfast Telegraph
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  29. ^ "YouTube killer..." Times Online. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  30. ^ "Teen gun killer sought to be 'a God'". CNN. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  31. ^ OPH – Tukea kouluille ja kodeille kriisitilanteessa. Retrieved 8th November 2007
  32. ^ The Government press conference on Jokela school shooting, 7th November 2007. Retrieved 8th November 2007.
  33. ^ "Finnish PM extends condolences to school shooting victims". 2007-11-08.
  34. ^ "Finland school shooter's suicide note examined". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  35. ^ Kirkolliskokous ottaa osaa Jokelan omaisten suruun, 8th November 2007. Retrieved 9th November 2007.
  36. ^ Arkkipiispa Leon osanotto Jokelan uhrien omaisille, 7th November 2007. Retrieved 9th November 2007.
  37. ^ Osanotto Jokelan murhenäytelmän johdosta, 7th November 2007. Retrieved 9th November 2007.
  38. ^ "Finland Drops Objections to EU Firearms Directive". Yle. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Aselakia tiukennetaan" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-12-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "An informal cabinet meeting discussed the Jokela school shooting". Retrieved 2008-01-07. Transclusion error: {{En}} is only for use in File namespace. Use {{lang-en}} or {{in lang|en}} instead.
  41. ^ "EQUITAS Jokela school shooting Inquiry UPDATE (02.08.08)". Retrieved 2008-02-21. Transclusion error: {{En}} is only for use in File namespace. Use {{lang-en}} or {{in lang|en}} instead.
  42. ^ [1], Retrieved 12th November 2007.
  43. ^ Samúðarkveðjur frá forseta Íslands til forseta Finna, Retrieved 8th November 2007. Template:Is icon
  44. ^ "Ahern välitti osanottonsa Haloselle". Yleisradio Oy. 2007-11-12. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  45. ^ Kong Harald kondolerer Finlands president, Retrieved 8th November 2007. Template:No icon
  46. ^ Pekka-Eric, 18 sköt ihjäl åtta, Retrieved 8th November 2007. Template:Sv icon
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  48. ^ "Finnish schools plagued by bogus threats". NewsRoom Finland. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
  49. ^ "Finnish police detain boy for YouTube video threat". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
  50. ^ "Police: Stop school scares now". blog.anta.net. 2007-11-27. ISSN 1797-1993. Retrieved 2007-11-27. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  51. ^ "Teenagers held in Sweden as fear of copycat killings grows". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
  52. ^ "Boys 'planned Stockholm school shooting'". The Local. Retrieved 2007-11-11.

External links

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