A photograph dated 23 August 2017 shows police officers and volunteers standing at the site of what has been confirmed as the first terrorist attack in the history of Finland.
Abderrahman Bouanane has been sentenced to life in prison for a stabbing spree that left two dead and eight injured in Turku, South-west Finland, in August 2017.
The District Court of Varsinais-Suomi on Friday, 15 June, found the 23-year-old man guilty of two murders committed with terrorist intent and eight attempted murders committed with terrorist intent, effectively confirming that the stabbings were the first terrorist attack in the history of Finland.
Bouanane had admitted to the stabbings but denied the allegation that they were carried out in an attempt to cause fear in Finland or Europe.
The court, however, ruled that the prosecution had produced enough evidence to corroborate its claim of terrorist intent and reminded that the suspect had begun to consume jihadist propaganda well before the attack and saw himself acting on behalf of the so-called Islamic State.
The terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the stabbings.
The knife-man, the court added, also targeted specifically women in the attack that took place at and around Turku Market Square shortly after 4pm on 18 August 2017. He was apprehended only a few minutes later, roughly 500 metres north-east of the square after being shot in the leg by the responding police officers.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT Photo: Roni Lehti – Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi
