1400 people estimated to join Oulu Pride Parade today

Police estimated that about 1400 people will attend in the Pride Parade scheduled to be held in Oulu on Saturday.

The law enforcing agency also warned people of possible disruption of traffic movement in the city centre area from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, said a police press release.

The parade will start from Rotuaari at 1:00 pm and will proceed along Kauppurienkatu, market square and Linnansaari to Åström Park.

Vehicular movement at Torikatu, Aleksanterinkatu, Kauppurienkatu and Rantakatu will remain closed for about one hour from 1:00 pm due to the parade, said police.

The annual Helsinki Pride Parade for sexual equality early this month attracted 100,000 marchers, nearly triple of the last year's 35,000.

This year saw the first large scale hoisting of the rainbow flag in public buildings in flagpoles that usually show the national flag.