Incident Summary:

03/26/2016: An assailant set fire to a 230-year old church in Ylivieska, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland. There were no reported casualties. An individual confessed to carrying out the attack; however, no motive was reported.

GTD ID:
201603260026

When:
2016-03-26

Country:
Finland

Region:
Western Europe

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Northern Ostrobothnia

City:
Ylivieska

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Religious Figures/Institutions
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description Church
Nationality of Target Finland
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Personal claim)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 1
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Ylivieska church arson – Makeshift Easter mass outdoors," YLE, March 27, 2016.
"Arson claims historic Finnish church," Finnish American Reporter, The, April 1, 2016.
"Finns celebrate Easter Mass near ruins of burned church," News 12 Hudson Valley, March 27, 2016.