Turku attack suspect admits action leading to 2 deaths

Local court in Turku, southwestern Finland, on Tuesday authorized continued incarceration of Abderrahman Mechkah, the main suspect in the stabbings that took place in Turku last Friday leaving two dead and eight injured.

Machkah appeared via videolink from a Turku hospital. He was seen on a large screen in the courtroom but hiding his face with a sheet.

The actual hearing was arranged behind closed doors, but police representatives told the media Mechkah admitted the "acts that led to deaths", but denied having committed murders.

The case of Mechkah was the first in the five requests from the police in order to keep all the five Moroccan citizens in detention.

The four others have earlier denied involvement in the acts.

The court session was arranged in an underground security facility of the court house.

The actual trial is likely to be months away. Local media reported that Mechkah would be transferred to a prison hospital from the Turku University Clinic where he has been treated for wounds incurred while the police stopped him with a gunshot to his legs.

Two people were killed and at least six others were injured when a miscreant equipped with knife attacked on people at the Turku city centre on Friday afternoon.