FINLAND: Police Confirm Stabbing Was Terror Attack

Police officers detain the suspect who was shot in the leg
Police are now investigating a stabbing spree in Finland that left two people dead as a terrorist attack, police said on Saturday, identifying the suspect as an 18-year-old Moroccan citizen.

Police said in a statement, the incidents were initially investigated as murders, but in light of further information received during the night, the offences include now murders with terrorist intent and their attempts.

The suspect's identity is known to the police. He is an 18-year-old Moroccan citizen, it said, providing no other details about him.

Police shot and wounded the knife-wielding suspect on Friday, arresting him minutes after an afternoon stabbing rampage at a busy market square in Turku in southwestern Finland.

Police on Saturday raised the number of injured in the attack from six to eight, adding that the injured included an Italian national and two Swedes. The other victims were all Finns.

Police also arrested five people in a Turku apartment overnight.

There was a raid and we have now six suspects in custody, the main suspect and five others, detective superintendent Markus Laine of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said.

We are investigating the role of these five other people but we are not sure yet if they had anything to do with the attack. We will interrogate them, after that we can tell you more.

But they had been in contact with the main suspect, Laine said.

In June, Finland's intelligence and security agency Supo raised the country's terror threat level by a notch, from low to elevated, the second notch on a four-tier scale.

It said at the time it saw an increased risk of an attack committed by the the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.

Police have said they are collaborating with the Finnish Immigration Service and international authorities in their investigation.

Several national authorities are participating in the investigation. We are also working together with our foreign colleagues to investigate the case, it said in a tweet.

The suspect is being treated in hospital in intensive care for a gunshot wound to the thigh.

The motive for the attack was not yet known.

We haven't yet interrogated the main suspect because of his medical condition, Laine said.

Police also said they had impounded a white Fiat Ducato van suspected of being tied to Friday's stabbing, but provided no other information about how it was linked.

On Saturday, the interior ministry ordered flags to fly at half-mast across Finland in honour of the victims.

The Nordic country also raised its emergency readiness nationwide after the stabbing, increasing security at airports and train stations and putting more officers on the streets.

Police believed the suspect had picked his victims at random, but Laine could not confirm that.

Police have said it was likely the suspect acted alone, but said Friday they were looking for other possible perpetrators.

In Turku, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto attended a vigil held in the Turku Cathedral on Friday evening in honour of the victims.

FINLAND: Visit Åland Islands

While there is plenty to do in Helsinki-proper, savvy travellers to Finland should consider escaping the hubbub of the city with a trip the Åland Islands.

Situated half-way between the Finnish city of Turku and Swedish capital Stockholm, the destination is that rarest of travel curiosities - an undiscovered gem.

Well, at least to those living outside of Scandinavia.

Officially part of Finland, but self-governed and Swedish speaking, Åland is a community of nearly 30,000 people spread over 20,000 islands, only 6,000 of which are named.

It is something of a tourism paradise, with everything from wholesome outdoor pursuits such as cycling, canoeing, sport fishing and even skiing, to more sedate sailing, free-camping and golf on offer.

Visitors must simply choose what they wish to do - as much or as little as they like.

Visiting in early April this year, I arrived via Åland-based Viking Line, which was an adventure in itself.

Sailing from the Katajanokka harbour on the edge of Helsinki, it is a near 12 hour journey to Mariehamn, the capital of Åland.

While that might sound like a series voyage, time on board ship flies by.

Conditions are comfortable - think cruise ship rather than ferry - with a double bed, shower, television and ample space in the private cabins.

A porthole also offers a window out onto the passing world.

Sailing is remarkably smooth: I left a pile of coins standing on my bedside dresser and they were undisturbed when I woke the following day.

On deck there are plenty of bars and restaurants on offer, while a kids club keeps the little ones entertained.

For dinner, I chose to eat at the buffet, which seemed to be the most popular option.

It is easy to see why, with delicious red meats, fine fish, caviar and unchecked wine and beer all included in the price.

Considering it is €8 a pint in Helsinki, a serious drinker can cover the cost of the trip in the two hour window allowed before the next sitting.

All too quickly it was over and while it seemed the karaoke bar was just getting started, I thought it wise to head for bed at around 23:00, mindful of the 04:00 start the next day.

Prices on Viking Line are very affordable, with fares effectively subsidies by the low-cost duty free on sale in the shops on board.

Mariehamn has a strong nautical heritage

Arriving at Mariehamn I made the five minute journey to Arkipelag Hotel.

A smart, modern property, it offers both excellent views over the sea and easy access to the centre of the town.

Revived after a quick nap, the first stop on the agenda was the Åland Maritime Museum.

Tracing the nautical heritage of Åland, the exhibition does an excellent job conjuring up a sea-salted past.

The museum reveals the great wealth the islands have drawn from the sea through the ages, while also telling the tales of those who lost their lives to the ocean.

A must see for any visit to Åland.

Other highlights in Mariehamn include the Åland Islands Art Museum and the Cultural History Museum of Åland, both of which trace the heritage of the destination.

The Åland Islands are a haven for adventurous travellers

But it is out in the countryside Åland really comes alive, and meeting Annica Grönlund from Visit Åland, we head off to explore.

“Rush hour is from four until five past four,” she explains, as we drive along the nearly clear roads.

Our first destination is HavsVidden, a luxurious hotel and conference centre on the northern coast overlooking the Baltic Sea.

It is here you can really see the attraction of Åland.

Private houses are dotted along the cliff, with each offering a unique sanctuary from which to enjoy the destination.

Guests can relax in the bathhouse for a while or in the famous Finnish sauna, stroll along the pier, or warm themselves in a wood fire heated bath.

There is a real feeling of closeness to nature; while modern technology is seamlessly blended into the accommodations to create a wonderful hybrid.

A great place to take friends for a weekend break in order to truly escape from the world.

Get close to nature at HavsVidden

On route to our next stop, I learn the story of Åland’s Champagne harvest.

Nearly a decade ago, some 145 bottles of the French wine dating from the 1840s were discovered in a shipwreck in Föglö, in an outer archipelago of the islands.

Owing to the constant temperature, dark surroundings and pressure, the Champagne was in excellent condition, with each bottle uncorked, tasted and classified by expert Richard Juhlin.

The man who made this discovery - Christian Ekström - now runs the Stallhagen brew pub, which offers a fantastic range of beers.

Most famous is an ale recreated from five bottles of beer lifted from the Föglö shipwreck along with the Champagne.

Analysed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, it has been reproduced to modern standards; with this ‘wreck beer’ now on offer to connoisseurs.

Find freedom on a private island in Åland

Of course, with so many islands uninhabited, visitors can seek out a completely private retreat.

Sviskär, for example, offers sublime relaxation on a ‘hermit island’.

Made from red granite rock, the island has a small forest lake where the water lilies flower, a meadow with many types of wildflowers, and red buildings that have been modernised with a gentle touch.

In the heart of Silverskärs lies a fisherman cottage where people lived a simple archipelago life until the 1950s.

This is now on offer to holidaymakers looking for a unique break, and is a great place to literally get away from it all.

For something a little less remote, although still very much in tune with nature, Sandosund offers both an excellent camp site, as well as both a hotel and private lodges.

It is a great place from which to explore the surrounding area, on bikes, kayaks or even on foot.

Ask about the floating, wood fired sauna for the most authentic Finnish experience.

Åland is a collection of nearly 20,000 islands in the Baltic Sea

With so much to see, guests will need more than the one day I had in Åland, many more.

But before boarding the boat back to Helsinki, there was time to enjoy a quick drink in downtown Mariehamn.

No matter the destination, however remote, there will be an Irish bar, and Åland is no exception, with Molly’s floating serenely in the Baltic on the edge of town.

For something a bit more local, try F.P. von Knorring or Kvarter 5.

Time to leave and I made the journey back to board the Viking Line to Helsinki.

While it might seem to be a little remote, Åland is actually a nexus between Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki, offering a world of adventure in a pocket sized space.

FINILAND: Helsinki Named 2nd Safest City In The world.

Finland attracted over 4,6 million tourists in 2015, with most coming from Russia.

In 2013 the value added by tourism was about 2.5% of the Finnish GDP, and provided around 136 700 jobs.

Finland is famous for its many lakes, nearly 200,000 of them larger than 500 m²/0.12 acres.

Tampere is the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland with other major cities being Jyväskylä, Mikkeli, Lahti, Joensuu, Lappeenranta, Kuopio and Savonlinna.

Finland is also known to have excellent water quality, and green deep woods and forests around the sea, rivers, and the waterways.

In wintertime Finland provides opportunities for cross-country skiing and alpine skiing.

Many of the popular ski resorts are situated north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland, but there are exceptions like Kuusamo in the northeastern part of Oulu Province and Himos in Jämsä, only 200 km North from Helsinki.

Santa Claus is commonly known to live on Korvatunturi in Finland. In the town of Rovaniemi there is the Santa Claus Village for tourists to visit.

Moomin World in the outskirts of Naantali is a theme park based on Tove Jansson child books about the Moomin.

Museums in Finland
- National Museum of Finland
- Museum of Finnish Architecture
- Finnish Museum of Natural History
- Finnish National Gallery
- Military Museum of Finland
- Finnish Railway Museum – Hyvinkaa
- Jokioinen Museum Railway

In the winter there is a large snowcastle with an Ice hotel built every year in the northern town of Kemi. Rovaniemi is a place from which to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern lights.

Tourists in the north of the country in winter often enjoy trips in reindeer sleighs with Sami drivers, or in dog sleighs.

It is also possible to ski, with downhill resorts at Saariselkä and Levi, and many cross country ski tracks throughout the northern part of the country.

Ice hockey is a popular sport in winter, and it is possible to go ice yachting, or ice skating on the ice. Most lakes are also frozen, so ice fishing (pilkkiminen) is quite popular.

Helsinki, Finland's capital and largest city, receives many visitors year-round.

During the summertime thousands of tourists approach Helsinki by cruising boats travelling across the Baltic Sea. Helsinki is known as a clean, modern and safe meeting point between the east and west.

Other popular tourist destinations within Finland include Jyväskylä, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi and Porvoo.

Helsinki is relatively small and intimate but lively and bustling. The nearby islands are its summer delights.

Because Helsinki is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea and has many kilometres of coastline, most of its central districts are near the seaside. Helsinki is a very maritime city and is popularly called the daughter of the Baltic.

Helsinki's coastal position makes it ideal to experience in the summertime from one of the many sightseeing ferries leaving from the port of Helsinki.

Many of Helsinki's main attractions are also related to the sea, including the Suomenlinna naval fortress (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Seurasaari Island with its parks and open-air museum.

Locals often spend sunny days at the Hietaniemi beach (often simply called Hietsu), Helsinki's main beach in the district of Töölö.

In the winter-time Helsinki's northern position makes it dark for most of the day, thus making it a cosy town with much interesting lighting, such as the classic Aleksanterinkatu's Christmas street (Joulukatu).

During the coldest months of the winter it is very common for Helsinkians to go for walks on the frozen sea, although much caution must be taken.

There are also many places for ice swimming along the coast, some with saunas.

Air travel to Helsinki is via the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, situated in the neighbouring town of Vantaa, a town part of Greater Helsinki.

Helsinki also has popular cruiseferry links with Stockholm, Sweden and hydrofoil and catamaran links to Tallinn, Estonia.

Silja, Viking and Tallink are the biggest ferry operators.

Helsinki is also the home of the Linnanmäki amusement park, which features five rollercoasters and many other rides, including the world's first Intamin ZacSpin rollercoaster.

Helsinki is a safe city for tourists and a safe place in which to live. In terms of personal safety, Helsinki has been named 2nd safest city in the world.

Helsinki has also efficient tourist information system maintained by the City of Helsinki Tourism & Convention Bureau located in the city centre next to Esplande park.

Tourism experts say Jyväskylä as a Mecca for architecture lovers around the world for its large collection of Alvar Aalto buildings.

The city is the biggest city on Finnish Lakeland and capital of Central Finland.

Later, a modern architect Arto Sipinen, a pupil of Aalto, has influenced in the cityscape since the 1970s by designing most of the new university buildings in the city.

The Alvar Aalto Museum and the Museum of Central Finland form a centre of culture in the immediate vicinity of the historical campus of the University of Jyväskylä.

Both museums are designed by a functionalist Alvar Aalto. The Alvar Aalto Museum displays the artist's most important work and design.
The Museum of Central Finland specializes in cultural history. It serves both as the town museum of Jyväskylä and the provincial museum of Central Finland.

One of architect Aalto's most significant works Säynätsalo Town Hall is located in Säynätsalo island on Lake Päijänne.

The city hosts the Neste Oil Rally Finland formerly known as 1000 Lakes Rally.

It is the biggest annually organised public event in the Nordic countries, gathering over 500,000 spectators every year.

The rally has been held since 1951, first as a national competition, then from 1959 on as a European Rally Championship event and since the introduction of the World Rally Championship in 1973, as Finland's WRC event.

UNESCO World Heritage site Petäjävesi Old Church is located in vicinity of Jyväskylä.

Finnish cuisine includes fresh ingredients, particularly game and fish, foraged berries and mushrooms such as false morels, and even reindeer.

Popular Alcoholic drinks to note are Koskenkorva, the salty liquorice-flavored Salmiakki Koskenkorva and cloudberry liqueur.

The Finnish rail system is called VR. It offers InterCity and express trains throughout the country, and the faster Pendolino trains connecting the major cities. There are very large discounts (usually 50%) available for children (7-16 yr), students, senior citizens, and conscripts.

There are international trains to St. Petersburg (Finnish and Russian day-time trains) and Moscow (Russian over-night train) in Russia. Connections to Sweden are by bus due to rail gauge differences.

It's possible to take the Silja, Tallink and Viking Line ferries from Helsinki to Mariehamn in the Åland archipelago, Stockholm (Sweden), Rostock and Travemünde in Germany, and to Tallinn, (Estonia).

There are about 25 airports in Finland with scheduled passenger services.

Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines provide air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki-Vantaa airport is Finland's global gateway with scheduled non-stop flights to such places as Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Nagoya, New Delhi, New York, Osaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Miami and Tokyo.

Helsinki has an optimal location for great circle airline traffic routes between Western Europe and the Far East. Hence, many foreign tourists visit Helsinki on a stop-over while flying from Asia to Europe or vice versa.

The Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was ranked 18th in the Skytrax World's Top 100 Airports survey.

FINLAND: Congress Travel In Finland Grows

Tourism income in Finland has almost doubled from year 2010 to €130 million in year 2015, despite the economic decline in Europe.

The number of congresses held in Finland has grown from 595 conventions in 2012 to the current 708. The previous year saw attendance figures of 79,000, which meant a tourism income of €130 million. The corresponding income for 2010 was €72 million. The Helsinki region hosts over half of these international congresses – significant events are, however, held in all of the largest cities throughout the year.

TOP Five congress cities:
1. Helsinki
2. Espoo
3. Tampere
4. Turku
5. Jyväskylä

FCB’s Convention Director, Leena Sipilä is extremely happy with this growth.
“Our previous best year had been 2013, but last year exceeded even 2013’s figures, despite our fears that the economic decline would take its toll,” says Sipilä, clearly pleased.

“We are more than happy.” Congress travel is a positive exception in Finland’s economic situation, especially compared to tourism in general, whose growth rate is declining.

The massive decline in Russian tourists has been challenging to leisure travel companies, who are now trying to attract new growth in Europe and Asia. Congress travel agents have also realised the possibilities for growth in the Asian market.

“We are organising our first corporate event marketing show in China, because we believe there are new opportunities and customers to be found there,” says Sipilä.