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A tragic arson attack claimed the lives of five members of a Somali family in Vantaa, north of Helsinki, early Tuesday morning. The blaze, which engulfed their apartment building, left a sixth family member, an infant, as the sole survivor. Police have confirmed that the fire was not racially motivated and that the family did not appear to be targeted.
Police inspector Mikael Backlund revealed that the victims, found in the building’s stairwell around 6:30 am local time, included two adults and three young children.
”Five deceased people were found on the staircase at around 6:30 am, of whom two were adults, and three were underage children. In addition, an infant has been taken into hospital care,” Backlund told reporters. The children, aged three, six, and eight, tragically lost their lives alongside their parents, aged in their 30s and 40s.
While the family’s apartment was located on an upper floor, it seems they became trapped in the stairwell due to “extremely heavy” smoke, according to Backlund. The police are investigating a 70-year-old man who lived in the building, suspecting him of starting the fire. The suspect was arrested and is expected to be questioned later on Tuesday.
Investigator Sanna Rentola noted, “The victims do not seem to have been the targets of the suspected deed any more than any other person in the building.” The exact motive for the fire remains unclear, and authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident.
