Myyrmanni bombing

2002 Myyrmanni bombing
Location Vantaa, Finland
Date October 11, 2002
Target Shopping mall
Attack type
 Suicide Bombing
Deaths 7 (including the perpetrator)
Non-fatal injuries
 166
Perpetrator Petri Erkki Tapio Gerdt

The Myyrmanni bombing took place on October 11, 2002, in Myyrmäki, Vantaa, Finland, in Greater Helsinki, at the Myyrmanni shopping mall.[1] A bomb detonated by Petri Gerdt exploded at 19:36 killing five immediately, including the bomber. In total seven died, including two teenagers and a 7-year-old. 166 people were injured, including 10 children. 66 victims required hospitalization with the remainder treated and released at the scene.[2] The shopping center was especially crowded, with 1,000–2,000 people, including many children who had come to see a clown performance.[3]

The perpetrator was Petri Erkki Tapio Gerdt (April 17, 1983 - October 11, 2002), who was killed in the explosion. He was a 19-year-old chemical engineering student at EVTEK (Espoo-Vantaa Institute of Technology) and a hobbyist bomb-maker. Gerdt had no prior criminal record.[3] He was also an active member of Kotikemia ("Home chemistry"), an on-line forum for amateur chemists.[3] The moderator of Kotikemia was acquitted of responsibility in court.

The explosive device was likely constructed in his apartment. It weighed about 2–3 kilograms (4.4–6.6 lb) and was made of ammonium nitrate and nitromethane with shotgun pellets.[2] The motive for the bombing is unknown,[1] but it is suspected that the bomb exploded prematurely. According to the police, the use of pellets to increase lethality hints that Gerdt's intention might have been to leave the bomb in the mall and detonate it remotely after leaving. Petri Gerdt's father, Armas, noted that his son used to detonate his home-made explosives in the woods nearby and suspected that he was transporting the bomb to be set off elsewhere.[4] The possibility of Gerdt having links to any radical groups or terrorist organizations has been ruled out.[1]

Myyrmanni

The bombing was especially shocking for Finland and the other Nordic countries, where bombings are extremely rare.[3]

On October 15, 2002 a national day of mourning was held throughout Finland. Some government buildings were closed, a moments silence was held in the Parliament and flags ordered flown at half staff.[1] The shopping center was closed for nearly three weeks before re-opening later in October.[5]

Armas Gerdt wrote the book Petrin matka Myyrmanniin ("Petri's Road to Myyrmanni") about the incident.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lyall, Sarah (October 15, 2002). "Teenager Held In Bombing That Killed 7 At Finnish Mall". The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Torkki, Markus; Virve Koljonen; Kirsi Sillanpää1; Erkki Tukiainen; Sari Pyörälä; Esko Kemppainen; Juha Kalske; Eero Arajärvi; Ulla Keränen; Eero Hirvensalo (August 2006). "Triage in a Bomb Disaster with 166 Casualties". European Journal of Trauma. 32 (4): 374–80. doi:10.1007/s00068-006-6039-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Örtenwall, Per; Almgren, Ola; Deverell, Edward (2003). "The bomb explosion in Myyrmanni, Finland 2002" (pdf-sample (page 1 only)). International Journal of Disaster Medicine. Informa Healthcare. Vol.1 (Iss.2): pg.120. doi:10.1080/15031430310029062. ISSN 1503-1438. Retrieved October 11, 2015 – via tandfonline.com.
  4. ↑ Räty, Panu (October 2, 2004). "Poikani Petri Gerdt". Kuukausiliite (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat: 28–36.
  5. ↑ "Vantaa shopping centre reopened.(Myyrmanni shopping center reopens following bomb attack". Nordic Business Report. Nordic Business Forum. October 30, 2002. Retrieved October 11, 2015 – via Highbeam.com. (subscription required (help)).
  6. ↑ Gerdt, Armas (2004). Petrin matka Myyrmanniin (in Finnish) (1st ed.). [Helsinki]: Gummerus. ISBN 9789512065691. Retrieved October 11, 2015 – via Google Books.

Coordinates: 60°15′36.5″N 24°51′12″E / 60.260139°N 24.85333°E / 60.260139; 24.85333

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