The Finnish climate action group Elokapina has criticised Helsinki police for its heavy-handed approach to breaking up a protest in the capital on Friday.
In a statement, the group said it suspended the demonstration on safety grounds due to what it termed the excessive use of force by police officers.
The protest included an attempt by the climate activists to block a busy highway intersection in the Ruoholahti district of Helsinki.
In its own statement released on Sunday evening, Helsinki police said the actions of the protesters endangered their own safety, that of other road users, as well as police officers.
The statement further noted that police had informed the organisers of the protest in advance that they would not be permitted to block traffic on the Länsiväylä motorway. However, small groups of protesters tried to block vehicles in the middle of the motorway as well as along Porkkalankatu.
"Elokapina's activities on Friday were different from previously. It was difficult for other road users and police to predict what they were going to do. The police acted as required by the situation," the police statement said.
At a press conference on Sunday, the climate group said the methods used by officers amounted to "police violence" and argued that the roadblock was legal, as such actions are protected by Finland's Assembly Act.
"In the police's view, the protest no longer enjoyed the protection of the Assembly Act and they started to remove people. In these situations, insubordination arises because we disagree with the interpretation of the law," Elokapina activist Ville Saarinen said at the press conference.
Police suspect five protestors of crimes
In relation to the same protest, police also suspect five protestors of committing a number of different crimes.
One demonstrator is suspected of violently resisting arrest and assaulting an officer, one of endangering road safety, one of assault and two of resisting a public official.
Finnish news agency STT reported on Monday that Elokapina is preparing to make a complaint against the police to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.