Turku, Finland, Attack Victims

Two people have died in a knife attack in Turku, Finland, that took place Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. Six others were wounded in the attack, which is being categorized as a terrorist act.

According to The Washington Post, the attacker was an 18-year-old Moroccan man. The attack took place in a public area. The attacker was shot in the leg and was treated at a hospital. Authorities are now calling it an act of terrorism after initially being unsure of the motive for the attack.

Turku, Finland, is located about 100 miles west of the capital city of Helsinki. There was a terrorist attack Thursday in Barcelona, Spain. At least 14 people were killed and over 100 others injured after men drove a vehicle into pedestrians in a plaza. Both Spain and Finland are members of the European Union. Authorities are investigating any potential links between the two events.

Both of the victims who died were Finnish. Two Swedes, one Italian, and a British man were among the injured. Police have said the attacker appeared to have targeted women.

“Terrorists want to pit people against each other. We will not let this happen. Finnish society will not be defeated by fear or hatred,” Interior Minister Paula Risikko tweeted.