No Pinoy wounded in Finland knife attack

MANILA, Philippines - No Filipinos were wounded in the terrorist attack in southwestern Finland before the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday.

It condemned the knife attack that left two persons dead and several others, including four foreigners, wounded in the stabbing incident Friday in Turku, a financial and cultural center that once served as Finland’s capital. 

“We condemn any act that seeks to undermine peaceful and tolerant societies,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Cayetano conveyed the sympathies of the Philippine government to the Finnish government and to the families of victims.

He said the Philippine embassy in Norway, which has jurisdiction over Finland, is coordinating with the Philippine honorary consulate general in Helsinki and is closely monitoring the situation there. 

“We urge our 3,500 kababayans in Finland to stay vigilant and to contact our Honorary Consulate General in Helsinki or our embassy in Oslo if in need of assistance,” Cayetano said. 

Citing a report from embassy Chargè d’Affaires Maria Elena Algabre, he said the knife attack in Turku was carried out by an 18-year-old man who was shot and taken into custody.