Radical far-right gang accused of series of terrorist offences

A group of five men with radical far-right ideology living in the Kankaanpää region were accused of committing a series of terrorist offences.

The Southwestern Finland Police have completed investigation into a criminal case and report will be submitted to the prosecutor for consideration of charges, said police in a press release on Friday.

The criminal investigation concerned a major case of multiple terrorist offences allegedly committed by the group, which was formed after motivated by a radical far-right ideology.

Based on the criminal investigation conducted, the group of five suspects being inspired by radical right-wing extremist ideas, stole or otherwise acquired and handled with terrorist intent firearms, dynamite and fertiliser containing ammonium nitrate.

According to the police, the men trained in the use of weapons and substances by practising shooting, making explosives from the fertiliser and experimenting with the explosives, for example.

“In the course of the investigation, the preparation of an offence was further specified to the suspected offence of receiving training for the commission of a terrorist offence,” said Detective Superintendent Toni Sjöblom, who led the criminal investigation.

The terrorist offences involved are aggravated firearms offence committed with terrorist intent, intentional explosives offence committed with terrorist intent, receiving training for commission of a terrorist offence and aggravated theft committed with terrorist intent (two separate criminal suspicions).

Based on the criminal investigation, the police suspect that the men had, among other things, an intent to attack the Niinisalo reception centre with explosives as part of their training.

The various phases of the incidents are suspected to have started in early 2016, and they can be considered to have continued until the end of 2019.

Three of the men are suspected of involvement in all the criminal offences; one is suspected of all but one theft; and one is suspected only of having received training for commission of a terrorist offence.

In the context of the criminal investigation, the police also investigated violent acts committed against a sexual minority. The police suspect that the acts were ideologically-based and therefore, motivated by hate.

“Furthermore, violence and extortion are suspected to have been involved in the practice of mutual discipline among the group. In respect to those violent acts, the criminal investigation report will also be referred to the prosecution,” said Sjöblom.

The Southwestern Finland Police acknowledges the cooperation with the Finnish Security Intelligence Service, National Bureau of Investigation, Helsinki Police and Europol at various stages of the investigation into terrorist offences.

According to Detective Superintendent Sjöblom, the unusual nature of the criminal case posed challenges to the investigating team in several areas.

“In particular, understanding of the global spread of extreme far-right radicalism has changed the worldview of those most closely involved in the criminal investigation. Society must be alert to various extremist ideologies. We need to consider how we can prevent the threats they pose. And, where necessary, bring criminals to justice,” Sjöblom added.