US citizens in Finland warned of terrorism

The US embassy in Helsinki on Friday issued a security alert for US citizens living in Finland.

The embassy in its website said the US government remains concerned that terrorists are intent on targeting US citizens, including children.

“Terrorists may employ a variety of tactics, such as violent assaults and kidnappings,” said the alert, adding that in the past they have used knives, guns, and vehicles as ramming devices.

They may target schools, hospitals, churches, tourist locations, transportation hubs, and other public venues, said the alert.

The authorities also advised its nationals to stay alert in public places, including schools, hospitals, churches, tourist locations, and transportation hubs, to review travel routes and times to reduce time and place predictability, to keep a low profile, to be aware of surroundings, to review personal security plans, and to report the social media threats to local authorities.

The alert message, however, did not specify the basis of the possible threat.

Meanwhile, the Finnish Security and Intelligent service (Supo) said the alert is probably just a general warning like the kind that is released by US embassies from time to time, reported the national broadcaster Yle quoting a Supo official.

Martin Westerlund from Supo told Yle on Saturday that Finland’s terrorist threat level is still two out of four.

Westerlund also said that Supo has no plan to begin a new assessment based on the US embassy’s actions, said the Yle report, adding that the Finnish authorities have no concrete information as to what this security alert pertains to.