Finland probes suspected break-ins at politicians' homes
The Finnish prime minister has not ruled out the possibility of foreign involvement in the suspected break-ins at the homes of members of parliament.
Finnish authorities are probing a series of suspected break-ins at the residences of lawmakers, officials revealed on Thursday. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo suggested it is "very possible" that a foreign power may be responsible for the alleged intrusions. He noted that such acts would strengthen national unity, particularly in the face of ongoing tensions with Russia.
President Alexander Stubb emphasized that an attack on a politician is an attack on democracy. The Speaker of Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, confirmed that multiple break-ins and attempted intrusions have been reported at the homes of several politicians. He stated that while the exact number of suspected cases is unknown, it is significant.
Halla-aho noted that the incidents had been occurring over a longer period, with the earliest believed to have happened about a year ago. The motive and identity of the perpetrators remain undisclosed. Deputy Speaker Paula Risikko was alerted to the suspicions last week, and the Helsinki police have taken charge of the initial investigation.
Helsinki police confirmed that an initial inquiry has been initiated, but the inquiry is still in its early stages, and the police have no additional information to share at present. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Finland has been on heightened alert. The Nordic nation, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, left its longstanding policy of non-alignment and joined NATO in April 2023.
Finland had previously accused Moscow of practicing "hybrid warfare" and orchestrating a migrant surge at their shared border in 2023, claims Moscow denied.
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