One child has died and two 12-year-olds have been left "seriously injured" following a shooting at a primary school in Finland, police have said.
Officers have confirmed that a suspect, who is also 12-years-old, has been arrested.
Emergency services were called to the Viertola school in Vantaa, Finland early on Tuesday morning.
Officers said all those involved in the shooting were minors.
Three children aged 12 have been injured in a shooting at a primary school in Finland
ReutersA police spokesperson said the victims were taken to hospital and local residents were urged to remain indoors.
At the time, Finnish police said: "Police are at the scene investigating the incident.
"Bystanders are asked to stay away from the area and indoors. The door should not be opened to strangers."
The Viertola school's principal Sari Laasila added: "The immediate danger is over."
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The school, located in a suburb to the capital Helsinki, has around 800 students from first to ninth grade and a staff of some 90 people.
Students were returning to lessons following the Easter break when the shooting happened.
Parents began gathering at the Jokiranta site as news of the shooting broke.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo wrote on social media: "The shooting scene in Vantaa is deeply shocking. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and the other students and staff of Viertola school."
Officers have confirmed that a suspect, who is 12-years-old, has been arrested
Reuters
Emergency services were called to the Viertola school in Vantaa, Finland early on Tuesday morning
Reuters
Finland tightened their gun legislation in 2010 following two deadly school shootings in just a matter of months in 2007 and 2008.
In 2007, Pekka-Eric Auvinen shot and killed six students, the school nurse, the principal, and himself using a handgun at Jokela High School, near Helsinki.
The following year, in 2008, Matti Saari, another student, opened fire at a school in Kauhajoki, and killed nine students and one male staff member before turning the gun on himself.
In Finland, there are more than 1.5 million licensed firearms and about 430,000 licence holders in the nation of 5.6 million people, where hunting and target shooting are popular activities.