Police HS information: A hint of a police security threat came from the Security Police – Helsinki police lead warned of knives or cars on Friday

The police The clue that led to the extraordinary security measures comes from the Security Police, several sources tell Helsingin Sanomat. Police have continued to prepare for a security threat on Friday, the first information of which spread to the public on Thursday.

Chief of Helsinki Police Lasse Aapio again gave new guidance to its staff on Friday on what precautions they should follow.

At the press conference, Aapio mentioned possible ways of attacking, for example, driving a knife or driving a car.

The threat of a car attack on the police has also emerged elsewhere in Europe, such as in Germany.

According to several sources, the police have been banned, for example, from moving unnecessarily in uniforms near the police station and advised to avoid unnecessary visibility of the badge. Those who were in the police station were instructed to have lunch inside the house, among other things.

POWER The preparedness applies to police units across Finland. In addition to the Helsinki Police, exceptional measures have been taken in the Inner Finland Police and the Central Criminal Police, among others.

In a message sent on Thursday, the deputy police chief Heikki Kopperoinen Among other things, the Helsinki police said that they had not been told to prepare for a concrete threat.

“No concrete threat is known. Employees are asked to keep their eyes open and report any photography outside the police station or other suspicious activity to the General Manager immediately, ”Kopperoinen instructed in the message.

The HS has not been able to confirm whether the threat was specifically the surveillance of a suspicious person by the police or whether there was something else behind the threat. Apparently, the police have also received very limited information about the Security Police.

The general level of preparedness of the Helsinki police was raised about a week ago.

Police personnel have been urged for several months to be vigilant. Police have always been called upon to pay attention if someone describes or otherwise acts suspiciously in the facility.

Finnish Security Intelligence Service said on Thursday early that it has stepped up its preparedness.

“We are aware of the threat to the police. The police have taken their own measures to counter the threat. The security police have also stepped up their preparedness, but our more detailed contingency plans are kept secret, ”said the communications manager. Milla Meretniemi.

Information about the security threat has been marked by both exceptional publicity and, on the other hand, exceptionally limited information sharing on the threat within the police. This is apparently explained by the fact that the data comes from Supo.

The security police often provide little information. The sharing of information may be even narrower than usual, for example in situations where the Security Police has received information from foreign intelligence services. The backgrounds to such information are not told even within the police.