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 eight people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting at a school in southern Finland, police have said.
The incident took place in the town of Tuusula, some 50km (30 miles) north of the capital Helsinki.
The incident took place in 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 Jokela secondary school.
The school building has been evacuated and police inspector Tero Haapala said the situation was now under control.
Finnish police say the gunman shot himself and is among those being treated in hospital.
Mr Haapala said that "there is no danger to outsiders", without commenting on reports that police had arrested the gunman.
It felt unreal - a pupil I have taught myself was running towards me, screaming, a pistol in his hand Kim KiuruJokela school teacher
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, said seven or more people had been killed and that the death toll could rise.
Police inspector Tero Haapala said that the school has been evacuated and "there is no danger to outsiders".
He told the Associated Press that one person was "severely injured" and that 10 others had minor injuries.
Dr Eero Hirvensalo, the head of the medical response team, told the Associated Press news agency that one person was "severely injured" and that 10 others had minor injuries.
'Jumped from windows'
'Jumped from windows'
A Tuusula municipality spokeswoman said the gunman opened fire during a lesson at Jokela secondary school, which has 400 pupils between 12 and 18.
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.
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."
"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".
YouTube video
YouTube video
It is not yet clear if the gunman is among the dead.
A video named "Jokela high school massacre" was posted on YouTube
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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