The Helsinki District Court began hearing a case Monday in which a man and a woman were charged with plotting to kill 50 people at the university using toxic gases and firearms. The defendants in the case allegedly planned to select their victims at random.
University rector Jukka Kola said he was shocked by the planned attack. According to Kola the institution will conduct a review of its security policies once more information about the plot becomes available.
Kola said it is worrying that such an attack would have targeted a community service organisation such as the university. He pointed out however that Finland is still a very safe country and that Helsinki University is one of the safest places to study and work. He added that this kind of incident should not be allowed to disrupt Finland’s open society.
