Finland Times

Senior police officer Teijo Ristola from the South-West Finland Police Department said threats, spread especially via the social media, have manifested all over the country.

According to Ristola, the incidents could be a dozen throughout the country; however, there is no information on the exact number.

Ristola also observed that the threats are isolated incidents rather than an orchestrated phenomenon.

“We all know that the societal debate on this subject is quite fierce, and now it seems that in between the boundaries of the debate are forgotten and the criteria of a crime may be fulfilled,” said Ristola.

The Finnish language daily Turun Sanomat reported that a woman who organised collection of clothes and household goods for the refugees has received a death threat sent via email. The matter has been reported to the police, Ristola said.

Ristola said the seriousness of the threats will be assessed case by case, adding that the matter is unusual and the police will assess threats against those in distress.

“In respect to the asylum issue, the intense remarks and threats presented in the social media are quite new. The police are getting acquainted with it and are examining

whether it is a case of individual threats or whether there is an organised activity behind,” Ristola said.

Meanwhile, the Helsinki parishes have offered the church crypts as emergency accommodation during the weekend for around 100 people, because the reception centres are full to the capacity.

Alaa Al-Badi, a 23-year-old Iraqi, and other asylum seekers will stay this weekend at the crypt of Mikael Agricola church in Helsinki.

The City of Helsinki is responsible for organising the accommodation of asylum seekers and the parishes as well as Agricolaliike.