Ratina shopping centre horror as multiple people stabbed in rush hour attacks

Multiple people have reportedly been stabbed this afternoon in the city of Tampere in Finland close to the Ratina shopping centre.

The victims have been given first aid and one person has been arrested in connection with the attack. Local media reports that there is now 'no danger posed to outsiders' following the shocking incident during rush hour - the stabbing took place around 4:40pm local time.

The doors of the shopping centre facing Ratina Square have been closed but the stores in the centre remain open as emergency services are at the scene. An investigation has since been launched by police and the square cordoned off.

READ MORE: Diogo Jota was travelling by car as doctors had advised him not to fly

READ MORE: Dartford crossing LIVE: M25 traffic jam after crash between car and lorry

At 5:10pm an announcement was made that eyewitnesses to the incident in the centre would be moved to the second floor.

Local media Ilta-Sanomat said it has seen a video and a photo from the scene that show a lot of blood stains outside the shopping center. "Blood is splattered on the ground for several meters and in one place, there is a lot of it," the outlet said.

"No one should see something like that," the person who filmed the scene also told the outlet. This isn't the first time a stabbing has happened at Ratina shopping centre.

Last July, one person was injured after being stabbed outside the centre. The incident reportedly happened after a quarrel between the assailant and victim.

While last June, a man was arrested on suspicion of double attempted murder after a knife attack left a 12-year-old boy seriously injured in Finland.

"The stabbing rampage took place at a shopping centre in Oulu with authorities saying that the man, aged in his 30s, had a background where he has been involved in far-right political activities.

“The criminal investigation is still at an early stage and the police do not know the exact motive for the act.

"They know, however, that the suspect has a background in extreme right activities,” the National Bureau of Investigation said at the time.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo noted that "far-right violence is a real threat" in the country. "I condemn Oulu's brutal attack on children. Far-right violence is a real threat in Finland.

"There is no room for extremism of any kind in this country. The government acts determinedly against extremism and violence," he said on social media.

While Finance Minister Riikka Purra wrote: “In the middle of the day, in the middle of the shopping center, the stabbing of a young person. I hope the victim survives.” She added in a separate post on X: “Extremist movements, drugs, robberies, gangs - the problems are growing.

"The deterioration of security must be taken seriously, the punishments must be increased and the indifference in the face of all kinds of violence must be stopped.”