School comes under arson attack in Espoo

A fire broke out at a primary school at Suvela in Espoo late Saturday night, local media reported.

The fire took place at about 11.00 pm at the Kirsti School which was empty for renovation work and the police suspect it was set intentionally, the national broadcaster Yle reported.

A passerby first noticed smoke coming from the building and the Rescue Services responded to an alarm immediately.

“The building was empty, as there were plans to completely renovate the premises. The fire was burning in several locations, which leads us to believe that it was set off deliberately. We are conducting preliminary investigations, and no one has been taken into custody,” the Western Uusimaa Police Department’s Inspector Lauri Hakkala told the news agency STT, according to the Yle report.

No human causality, however, was reported, although a strong cloud of smoke engulfed the adjacent residential area.