A serious threat of violence targeted the courthouse of the Eastern Uusimaa District Court in Vantaa on Thursday.
Timo Heikkinen, from the office of the district court, confirmed to Yle that the threat is related to the ongoing Milan Jaff street gang trial.
Last week, the trial over a shooting between street gangs in Helsinki and Espoo began with strict security measures already put in place. On Thursday, the hearing continued.
The police informed Yle that they are monitoring the premises and have officers on-site due to the increased threat of violence. The police also said that the situation does not pose any danger to bystanders or to those working at the courthouse.
While there were earlier reports that the threat was a bomb threat, Inspector Miika Laine—officer in charge of the situation at the courthouse—said that the threat was more of a "general" threat.
The police are continuing to investigate the matter and did not offer further information as of about midday on Thursday.
Who is Milan Jaff?
Milan Jaff, a 22-year-old rapper known for his music videos and social media presence, was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year.
In its May ruling, the Helsinki District court said that Jaff is the leader of an organised criminal group known as Kurdish Mafia, which uses the number "47" as a code number and alternate name.
The gang was responsible for a shooting that occurred in Espoo on 5 September 2021, according to the court. Kurdish Mafia gang leaders had attempted to kill the heads of a rival gang in Espoo, it said.
The current charges in the Eastern Uusimaa District Court include a total of seven men in their twenties accused of attempted murder in Leinelä, Vantaa, on 6 August 2021.
These charges also claim that Jaff fired twice with a shotgun at the Espoo gang's car.
Threats of violence against courts are rare in Finland, but not entirely exceptional. In December of 2021, all the district courts in Uusimaa faced bomb scares, but nothing came of the threats.