A fire in Pirkkola, Helsinki, on Saturday evening claimed the lives of a mother and her son, according to police reports.
The incident occurred in a detached house, where the woman, born in 1950, and her son, born in 1979, were discovered deceased amid the flames.
Head investigator Kari Martikainen confirmed to Yle that police officers found the victims when the property was already engulfed by fire.
"We are investigating whether the mother died before the fire started or whether both died in the blaze," he stated.
Initial findings suggested a violent altercation may have occurred before the fire. Police suspect the son inflicted injuries on his mother and later ignited the fire.
The son, now deceased, is the sole suspect, and the case is being treated as a homicide.
The authorities revealed that the mother was the registered resident of the property, while the son was not officially living there.
"There are currently no other suspects," Martikainen added.
Emergency call preceded fire
Police were first alerted to the property by a report of suspected assault. When emergency services arrived, the house was already ablaze.
Thick smoke from the fire led authorities to issue an initial advisory, urging residents near Petaksentie to shut their windows and ventilation systems. An emergency warning was also issued but was lifted by Sunday morning as the smoke no longer poses a threat.
The affected area, a densely built neighbourhood of detached homes, witnessed significant damage to the property.
Fire crews worked late into the night to extinguish the remaining hotspots, with the duty fire chief confirming that most of the fire had been brought under control by 11pm.
Investigations into the circumstances of the fire and the suspected violent crime are ongoing. Police have made no arrests, and the suspect is presumed to have acted alone.
The death of the mother and son was first reported by Helsingin Sanomat.