Police find massive cache of weapons and ammunition in Vantaa apartment
Building and nearby day care centre evacuated
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Vantaa police units and the Defence Forces were busy on Tuesday, and into the early hours of Wednesday, taking large amounts of weapons out of an apartment in the Simonkylä neighbourhood.
The apartment on the upper floor of the building housed a large collection owned by a gun collector, which had not been stored properly.
The collector, who was born in 1970, had 150 legal pistols and rifles. Police suspected that illegal guns might also have been in the collection.
Also in the apartment was an unknown quantity of gunpowder and munitions from the Finnish Defence Forces, including hand grenades, which are illegal to keep in private homes.
Police cordoned off the area on Tuesday and evacuated all apartments along the stairwell in question. A nearby children’s day care centre was also evacuated.
An evacuation centre was set up at a nearby sports hall for the 20 residents who had to stay away from their homes. A total of nearly 40 residents in the building spent their night away from home. Those who did not have friends or relatives to go to were given hotel accommodation.
Emptying the apartment of the weapons and explosives was slow and laborious work. It took about three hours to clear the front hallway alone. By 10:00 p.m. about half of the apartment of 32 square metres had been inspected.
“There was so much stuff all around that it was hard to find a place to put your foot down”, said Risto Purastie of the Vantaa Police.
Conscripts were brought in from the Santahamina garrison to guard the cordoned-off area. About 30 explosive experts and other personnel from the police and the Defence Forces took part in the operation.
Police noticed the guns, ammunition, and explosives on Monday evening in connection with another call. The reason for the call at that time was a cigarette that had been smouldering in an ashtray on a balcony.
Police closed the apartment in the evening and detained the gun collector.
According to the police, the man in question does not have a criminal record. The guns had not been used to intimidate anybody, and there was no threatening situation.
The police operation brought dozens of curious onlookers to the area. One nearby resident, Sari Dias-Broughton, said that the operation came as a complete surprise.
"I came out with the children to wonder what was going on here”, she said.
A group of volunteers from the local rescue service were also on hand. Its leader, Mirja Bergström, said that the evacuation had proceeded well.
“All residents behaved calmly. Our task is now to take them away from there”, Bergström said.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 28.5.2008 - TODAY |
 Police find massive cache of weapons and ammunition in Vantaa apartment |
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