- Title: FINLAND: Memorial service honours shooting victims
- Date: 29th September 2008
- Summary: (W3) KAUHAJOKI, FINLAND (SEPTEMBER 28, 2008) (REUTERS) CANDLES FAMILY PLACING A CANDLE CANDLES AND THE SCHOOL WHERE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE IN BACKGROUND PEOPLE AND MILITARY GUARD NEXT TO SCHOOL CHURCH TOWER WITH BELLS RINGING PEOPLE ARRIVING FOR MEMORIAL SERVICE FAMILY PASSING BY FINNISH FLAG AT HALF MAST/ CHURCH TOWER IN BACKGROUND PEOPLE WALKING TO CHURCH PERSON HOLDING CANDLE FINNISH PRESIDENT TARJA HALONEN ARRIVING AT MEMORIAL SERVICE CHURCH WITH BELLS RINGING
- Embargoed: 14th October 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Finland
- Country: Finland
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVAH85OCV012A8GT6448730P371
- Story Text: A memorial service is held to honour the victims of the Kauhajoki school shooting in which 10 people were killed.
Memorial services for the victims of the Finland school shooting were held across the country on Sunday (September 28).
Finnish President Tarja Halonen joined the congregation at a church in Kauhajoki, western Finland, scene of the massacre in which 10 people died on Tuesday (September 23).
Mourners placed candles opposite the school where Matti Saari, 22, killed nine fellow students -- eight female and one male -- and one male staff member at a travel and hospitality industry college before killing himself.
Finnish police said Saari had been planning his killing spree since 2002, and had "very likely" been in contact with the student behind a similar gun rampage last year.
The second school shooting in less than a year in a country with among the highest gun ownership rates but relatively low crime prompted tough questions about gun ownership, the role of the Internet and the failure of police to confiscate Saari's gun after learning of his macabre videos. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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