Police have apprehended a suspected arsonist in the eastern city of Lappeenranta. The 17-year-old local man is suspected of setting fire to several buildings in the space of a few weeks this summer.
Detective Teemu Liikkanen had little to say as the suspect is set to be questioned later on Monday. The man was known to police, Liikkanen said.
"The man has had dealings with police before, but I cannot comment on whether the previous run-ins had anything to do with arson. We are ascertaining whether the man is linked to any or all of the cases, and whether there were accessories," he says.
One witness, unreported fires
Police suspect that several fires have been set on purpose in the Huhtiniemi and Sammonlahti areas of Lappeenranta over the summer. Arson targets include the trash compactor of the Sammonlahti K-Supermarket, a yacht club equipment shed in Huhtiniemi and an apartment building garbage unit.
Police know of one witness to the crimes. Not all the fires were even reported as some of them were only small blazes.
The most recent case was on Saturday, July 15th.
"This most recent one was highly risky, as the fire could have spread to neighbouring flats," Liikkanen says.
Police continue to investigate the spate of fires and request that members of the public come forward if they have information pertaining to the crimes. Local police can be contacted at vihjeet.kaakkois-suomi@poliisi.fi or 050 447 9574.