The task of preventing and investigating mass murders may be handed over to Finland's Security Police, Supo.
A report in the daily Helsingin Sanomat says that Interior Minister Anne Hollund, National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero and Supo Chief Ilkka Salmi said yesterday that Supo might be assigned to head off incidents such as the shooting that took place at the Kauhajoki Vocational High School last week. The security leaders were speaking at a security and Defence Conference in Lahti Friday.
The Interior Minister is expected to take up the matter with police top brass.
Risto Volanen, State Secretary and assistant to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, said that the school killings represent new and grisly acts of terrorism.
He echoed the Prime Minister's view that school murders are no longer isolated incidents, but constitute a new form of serious crime and a security challenge.