At least seven people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting at a school in southern Finland, medical officials say.
At least seven people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting at a school in southern Finland, medical officials say.
Police have given no details of the injured victims, hurt in the incident in the town of Tuusula, some 50km (30 miles) north of the capital Helsinki.
The incident took place in the town of Tuusula, some 50km (30 miles) north of the capital Helsinki.
Finnish media reported that the shots had been fired by an 18-year-old man at the town's Jokela secondary school.
Finnish media reported that the shots had been fired by an 18-year-old man at the town's Jokela secondary school.
Police inspector Tero Haapala said later the situation was under control.
The school building has been evacuated and police inspector Tero Haapala said the situation was now under control.
Mr Haapala said that "there is no danger to outsiders", without commenting on reports that police had arrested the gunman.
Mr Haapala said that "there is no danger to outsiders", without commenting on reports that police had arrested the gunman.
The school building is still surrounded by police and ambulances.
It felt unreal - a pupil I have taught myself was running towards me, screaming, a pistol in his hand Kim KiuruJokela school teacher
Dr Eero Hirvensalo, the head of the medical response team, told the Reuters news agency that seven or more people had been killed and that the death toll could rise.
Dr Eero Hirvensalo, the head of the medical response team, said seven or more people had been killed and that the death toll could rise.
He told the Associated Press that one person was "severely injured" and that 10 others had minor injuries.
'Jumped from windows'
'Jumped from windows'
A Tuusula municipality spokesman said the gunman opened fire during a lesson at Jokela secondary school, Finland's STT news agency said.
A Tuusula municipality spokeswoman said the gunman opened fire during a lesson at Jokela secondary school, which has 400 pupils between 12 and 18.
Students and staff fled in panic, and a number of heavily armed police were later seen rushing to the scene, STT reported.
Students and staff fled in panic, and a number of heavily armed police were later seen rushing to the scene.
Kim Kiuru, a Jokela teacher, said the head teacher announced over the school public announcement's system just before noon (1000 GMT) that all students should remain in their classrooms.
Kim Kiuru, a Jokela teacher, said the head teacher announced over the school public announcement's system just before noon (1000 GMT) that all students should remain in their classrooms.
"I stayed in the corridor to listen to more instructions having locked my classroom door," Mr Kiuru told Finland's YLE radio.
"I stayed in the corridor to listen to more instructions having locked my classroom door," Mr Kiuru told Finland's YLE radio.
"After that I saw the gunman running with what appeared to be a small calibre handgun in his hand through the doors toward me after which I escaped to the corridor downstairs and ran in the opposite direction."
"After that I saw the gunman running with what appeared to be a small calibre handgun in his hand through the doors toward me after which I escaped to the corridor downstairs and ran in the opposite direction."
"It felt unreal - a pupil I have taught myself was running towards me, screaming, a pistol in his hand."
Mr Kiuru said he saw a woman's body as he fled the building. He said he then told his students to "jump out of the windows... and all my pupils were saved".
Mr Kiuru said he saw a woman's body as he fled the building. He said he then told his students to "jump out of the windows... and all my pupils were saved".
Some media reports suggested a message on the YouTube website was linked to the shooting.
YouTube video
Jokela school has more than 400 students aged 12 to 18.
It is not yet clear if the gunman is among the dead.
A video named "Jokela high school massacre" was posted on YouTube
According to reports, a video called "Jokela high school massacre 11/7/2007" was posted on the YouTube website by an 18-year-old man during the past two weeks.
The video shows a picture of a building by a lake and two photos of a young man holding a gun.
Going by the username Sturmgeist89, the person who posted the video calls himself a "social Darwinist" who would "eliminate all who I see unfit". "Sturmgeist" means storm spirit in German.
The video has now been removed from the website and police have not yet commented on it.
It is the first reported shooting incident at a Finnish school.
It is the first reported shooting incident at a Finnish school.
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