Four young Kurds suspected in arson attack against Turkish Embassy
Police do not believe the suspects have links with PKK
|
|
|
A firebomb attack against the Turkish Embassy in Helsinki in the early hours of Tuesday is believed to have been a reckless and serious act by four young men of Kurdish background.
Initial police investigations have not revealed any direct links between the four and the Kurdish separatist organisation PKK.
Nevertheless, the Turkish Embassy said that it suspects the PKK of the firebombing. According to the Embassy, a similar attack took place during the weekend in Salzburg, Austria.
Police in Helsinki arrested four young men aged 16 to 20. According to the police, the four had thrown one or more petrol bombs at the door of the Turkish Embassy. The fire was put out by Helsinki firefighters.
The four are still being questioned today, Wednesday.
“We are looking for information about the backgrounds of the four. All of them were born in Turkey and they all speak good Finnish”, says Markku Stenberg of the Helsinki Police.
Because of the rapid arrests, the police did not upgrade security at foreign embassies.
“Of course we need to react to something like this, but there is no reason to press the panic button. In the Finnish manner, we will clear these up calmly and thoroughly”, said Pekka Höök, head of the field unit of the Helsinki police.
The Security Police (SUPO) are also involved in the work.
“Embassy buildings are sometimes targets of vandalism, but this is not very common”, says SUPO spokeswoman Liinu Lehto-Seljavaara.
SUPO is not commenting on the possible connections that those who were arrested might have with the PKK.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 22.10.2008 - TODAY |
 Four young Kurds suspected in arson attack against Turkish Embassy |
|
