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Finland investigates suspected break-ins at MPs homes / Photo: © AFP
Finland investigates suspected break-ins at MPs homes
Finnish authorities said Thursday they were investigating a slew of suspected break-ins at the homes of members of parliament, which the prime minister said could "very likely" be linked to a foreign power.
Following media reports of the alleged intrusions, speaker of parliament Jussi Halla-aho on Thursday confirmed that parliament had been made aware of a "significant" number of break-ins and signs of attempted intrusions at the homes of several politicians.
"I cannot comment precisely on the number of suspected cases known to us, but in any event, it is significant," Halla-aho told a press conference.
He added that the known cases had occurred over a longer period of time, with the first believed to have taken place about a year ago.
"At this stage, there is no information about the motive or who was responsible," he stressed.
Asked by a reporter if a foreign power could be behind the suspected intrusions, Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo it was "very possible. Quite possible in these times."
"If someone tries to destabilise Finland, our sense of security, or our support for example for Ukraine, it has the opposite effect. It strengthens our unity," he said.
Deputy speaker Paula Risikko, who leads the parliamentary security group, said she had been informed last week of the suspicions.
She added that Helsinki police had been tasked with the "initial stage of the investigation".
In a statement, Helsinki police confirmed that a preliminary inquiry had been opened.
"The inquiry is at an early stage, and the police have nothing further to comment on at this time," it said.
All members of parliament had been told to keep an eye out, report observations and file police complaints if necessary.
Newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported earlier this week that MPs had been warned of potential break-ins last week, and that the newspaper was aware of at least two home intrusions.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said "an attack against a member of parliament is an attack against democracy."
"It should not be allowed or accepted in any form," he told reporters at a ceremony introducing the country's new F-35 fighter jets in Rovaniemi in Finland's far north.
S. Sokolow--BTZ
