Hooligans storm pizzeria run by immigrants in Kajaani
Police suspect racism as motive for attack
|
|
A pizzeria run by immigrants was attacked by a group of hooligans on Saturday evening in the eastern city of Kajaani. Police suspect racism as the cause for the outrage.
At 7.30 in the evening, a group of about ten young men stormed the restaurant located in Kajaani's Kättö district. Some of the men were armed with billiard cues. According to the police, they assaulted the restaurant staff and broke some of the establishment's equipment.
The restaurant staff received cuts and bruises to their heads, and some minor scratches. According to Det. Chief Insp. Ari Kylmäniemi of the Kajaani police, the blows and wounds are not very serious.
The hooligans managed to flee from the scene before the police arrived. However, the police are already aware of the identity of some of the perpetrators as the restaurant staff recognised them, Kylmäniemi explains.
Those under suspicion will be brought in for questioning in the coming days.
"These are all young members of the original Finnish population of Kajaani. It is very likely that racism was the underlying motive behind the attack", Kylmäniemi describes the incident.
Kylmäniemi verifies that the pizzeria has already been targeted with vandalism earlier this summer and during the spring. The entrepreneur running the place has received phone calls in which he has been urged to leave the city.
Vandalism targeted at immigrants is not a new phenomenon in Kajaani. According to Kylmäniemi, in recent years there have been signs of some sort of friction between the Finns and the foreign immigrants.
Still, Kylmäniemi does not see racism as a major problem in the city.
The attack is being investigated as an assault and grave disturbance of public order.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 2.8.2005 - TODAY |
 Hooligans storm pizzeria run by immigrants in Kajaani
|
|
