#helsinki 2007

[eurovision-revisited]

Eurovision 2007: The Postcards

This year's postcards hark back to those of Eurovision 2000. Little, witty, scenes showcasing Finland and Finland's lifestyle, attitudes and sense of humour. They're simple, charming and full of the sights you would expect from ski-jumping to reindeers, along with a few scenes of city life.

There's no text, speech or other context, so the production team from Tarinatalo Storyhouse had to ensure that each story could be told without language of any sort. Of course a record number of countries entering also requires a record number of postcards to be produced and so forty-two stories that could be told entirely with images had to be conjured up - each with its own setting

Some even fitted in with the theme of true fantasy, portraying Finland as a land where the ski-lifts are operated by extraordinarily strong vest clad hunks turning big wheels among other melanges of reality and the absurd.

Yes, some work far better than others, and some have less humour in and others rather more, but each does its job as break from the music and allow the stage team requires ninety seconds to get everything in place.

I doubt these postcards had the investment of the previous years, however they work a lot better. Instead of fast cutting between tourist shots of the country, each scene is allowed the time to develop in a single setting, and that allows your eyes and brain to come down of whatever highs and lows the previous act imbued and achieve a settled resting position.

Postcards don't need to be hyper, it's probably better if they're this well put together - even if they don't feature the performers themselves and are pretty much all just about Finland. Why not - they're paying!

[yeats-infection]

deerhunter playing "nothing ever happened" at pitchfork festival 2011 with a lil interpolation of "land" by patti smith

[arctichalo]

.

[cowboy-tendencies]

Debbie - Architecture In Helsinki

[politicalprof]

And so it has come to pass, on this first day of January, 2025, that for the first time since August 1982, I am no longer:

an undergraduate student at (1982-1986);

a graduate student at (1986-1992);

a non-tenure track faculty at (1990-1992; 1992-1994);

an assistant professor at (1994-2000);

an associate professor at (2000-2004);

a professor at (2004-2024);

or a visiting professor at (2007-2008; 2015-2016)

any institution of higher education anywhere in the world.

An academic journey that took me from Boone, NC, to Nashville, TN, to Huntsville, AL, to Spokane, WA, to Normal, IL, with extended visits in London and Helsinki, has come to its end.

Do I know what's next? No. Does that bother me? No. I look forward to finding out.

Peace.

[his-argentite]

Damn, i didn't even realise this at first

A reminder/fun fact since verka became a legend in 2007 when esc was in helsinki.

Btw this comment is under this video

[earlycuntsets]

07/03/2007 helsinki – deadflowerphotography

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #856:

On December 12th, 2024 the fourth edition of the Het Grote Songfestivalfeest (The Big Eurovision Party, a concert featuring past Eurovision contestants) was held.

During the event, 2007 contestants Marija Šerifović (winner, Serbia) and Verka Serduchka (2nd place, Ukraine) met again for the first time in 17 years.

Verka Serduchka posted about the encounter on Instagram saying:

"My dear Marija! We haven’t seen each other for 17 years! And you were the one I’ve been looking to meet in Amsterdam! We invite you to celebrate 20th anniversary! Everything’s on us!"

[Sources]

Helsinki 2007, Eurovision.tv.

Participants of Helsinki 2007: Verka Serduchka, Eurovision.tv.

"My dear Marija!" by @/v_serduchka on Instagram.com.

Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2024 Participants, Wikipedia.org.

[jokeroutsubs]

[📝ENG translation] The Finnish festival summer will be scorching hot next year - a new festival headlined by the Eurovision Sensation.

A legendary festival is making a comeback in Finland next summer with Joker Out as a headline artist. This post will summarize two articles to tell what is all of this about. There were few articles published in the media but these two will summarize the main points.

English translation by @niini5 and @drugsforaddicts, review by @saallotar proofread by X klámstrákur.

The Finnish festival summer will be scorching hot next year - a new festival headlined by the Eurovision Sensation

Original article written by Jarkko Fräntilä for Rumba, published 19.11.2024.

Happening in Mikkeli!

Dinosaurock, which started in 1987, and Jurassic Rock, which began in 2007, are getting a successor. Dinosaurock comes to Visulahti, Mikkeli,from August 15 to 16, 2025.

The first 12 artists to be announced for the festival have now been revealed. The lineup includes names like Joker Out, Ismo Alanko, Sexmane, Stam1na, Etta, Sara Siipola, Irina, Eevil Stöö, and Mikkeli-based BRHG. Additional programmes will be revealed soon.

The band, which rose to international fame with their song Carpe Diem in last year's Eurovision Song Contest, visited Finland for the first time in 2023. Joker Out performed to sold-out audiences at Olympia, Tampere, at Logomo, Turku, and at two shows at the Tavastia Club, Helsinki. The tickets were sold out in no time. The band performed at Tavastia¹ in the early 2024.

¹Translator note: Concert location in the early 2024 was Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki

Dinosaurock's Aikainen Lisko (Early Lizard)-tickets are on sale from today, 19.11.2024, onward. You can find the event's website here.

————-

Dinosaurock of Visulahti makes a comeback next summer - organising the festival are Jurassic veteran Mikko Jokipii and Jonna Vuolle from Mikkeli

Original article writte by Anssi Mehtälä for Mikkelin Kaupunkilehti, published 19.11.2024.

A dream had for many years of many live music lovers in Mikkeli is about to come true next summer, on on the 15th and 16th of August to be precise.

Mikkeli will then once again host a rock festival, and in what many even consider to be the only right venue too, Visulahti Travel Center.

On Friday and Saturday, around a dozen domestic and foreign artists will perform in Visulahti, of which about half will be announced at this stage.

Among others, Stam1na, Ismo Alanko, Bloodred Hourglass, Sexmane, Irina, Saimaa, Mokoma, Etta and Eevil Stöö will be coming to Visulahti.

One international guest has been confirmed so far: Joker Out, the Slovenian indie rock band that made a name for themselves at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.

The band has since visited Finland, performing for instance twice at the Tavastia club in Helsinki and at Ruisrock last summer.

“We are still looking for two or three international performers. The essential thing is that they'll strengthen the festival's repertoire” says Mikko Jokipii, one of the festival's creators.

The festival carries a name that can only be described as legendary, Dinosaurock.

The organiser is a joint-stock company of the same name, founded this autumn and backed by Jurassic Rock's long-time background figure Mikko Jokipii, who is also a film producer, Jonna Vuolle from Mikkeli, and Mikko Linnansaari, who has extensive experience in festival production.

“Our goal is to create a great event for the people of Mikkeli, a celebration of life and joy. It will be a medium-sized rock festival with lots of fun things to do.”

“As a Mikkeli resident, I feel really great to be able to create an event like this with great professionals” festival's producer Vuolle sums up.

“There has been a tremendous amount of positivity about this everywhere.

Let's take a look at the festival history of Mikkeli.

Dinosaurock was a festival organised by the live music association Melmu in Visulahti between 1987 and 1990. It revolutionised Finnish festival culture with its high quality, diverse lineup and relaxed atmosphere.

The Jurassic Rock festival, on the other hand, was held from 2007 to 2018, first in Visulahti and then in Kenkävero.

The new Dinosaurock can be seen as a continuation of the work of Jurassic Rock, which many still fondly remember. So why the name Dinosaurock?

“Dinosaurock is the original rock festival from Mikkeli. We want to honour that, it simply felt better to return to that name” explains Jokipii.

“Additionally, the name Jurassic Rock is now owned by Sanoma Group. It’s better that it stays there” Vuolle adds.

“In any case, our Dinosaurock aims to be liked by both Dinosaurock and Jurassic Rock visitors” Jokipii sums up.

The two-day event is being built in line with its predecessors, as a warm-hearted event.

“Visulahti has always been important to me. It was the number one aspect of Jurassic Rock and once the venue was moved to Kenkävero, the event wasn’t the same for me anymore” Jokipii says.

Visulahti will have two stages, a bigger and a smaller one.

“The planning of the festival area is already underway. Now we are scouting the best possible locations for the stages and other infrastructure” Jokipii says.

Services will cater to even the most demanding audience.

“The time has changed quite a lot since the early years of Jurassic Rock when it comes to festival services. At the same time, the customer expectations have risen regarding the quality of food and drink sales, accessibility, and VIP services. We are working hard on these aspects in collaboration with Visulahti” Jokipii reveals.

The organisers are pleased with the reception the festival project has received. The preparations were started well in advance.

“At the beginning of summer 2023, I was in contact with Mikko for the first time, when I got the idea of organising a music event in Mikkeli.”

“Due to Mikko having a busy schedule with films, the idea was left to simmer and the serious planning of Dinosaurock began this spring with the first meetings in Mikkeli” Vuolle explains.

“It feels like Mikkeli’s music scene now has a space for at least an event of this size” Jokipii describes.

“People everywhere have been incredibly positive about it. Ticket buyers, concert organisers, bands, everyone has been totally like, “Yeah!” And yes, the word ‘legendary’ has come up quite a few times” Vuolle laughs.

This positive reception has also convinced the organisers that the project is worth pursuing.

“If the feedback had been more along the lines of ‘meh, I’m not sure’, we probably wouldn’t even be talking about Dinosaurock right now” Vuolle says.

Mikko Jokipii and Jukka Holmstedt were posing with the Visulahti dinosaur in 2007. (Ph: Taru Hokkanen)

Next summer, the organisers of Dinosaurock expect to attract approximately 5000 people per day.

“It’s a modest goal. But we want to create an event that grows sustainably, if it grows, and that it can be organised practically, repeatedly, and every year” Vuolle notes.

“The program is curated so that every performer matters. And, of course so that the selection is diverse and interesting” she concludes

Dinosaurock’s ‘Aikainen Lisko’ (early lizard) tickets are now on sale today, November 19, 2024. A limited number of tickers are available here.

[xinfinityl0ve17]

Moi Dix Mois

Emperor of Darkness Stands in Europe

Have you already watched the live DVD DIXANADU Fated 'raison d'être' Europe Tour 2007 which captures the scenes from the European tour in October 2007? Focusing primarily on the final performance in France this work also features the atmosphere of the tour that visited eight locations in six countries. It gives insight into Moi dix Mois' popularity in the region and the 'heat' of the live performances can be felt through the screen. We spoke with the leader, Mana (G), about the contents of the DVD and his impressions of the various European countries he experienced firsthand.

― As we look back on the European tour let's talk about the live DVD DIXANADU Fated 'raison d'être Europe Tour 2007 which captures those moments. This tour took place in October last year and it was the first time you did something so extensive in Europe, right?"

"Yes, that's right. We went to six countries and performed in eight locations. Along the way the staff often mentioned how equipment would frequently break at the various venues. Apparently, that’s considered 'normal' over there. There were plenty of small issues like that but i’ve come to realize that if you let those things bother you, you won’t be able to tour in Europe or abroad. So recently, i’ve gotten used to it. I go with the mindset that something’s bound to happen (laughs)."

― So, I’d like to hear your impressions of each country you visited. Let's start with Finland, the first stop in Helsinki. It's a country that's also booming in the rock scene, right?

"Finland is home to bands like Children of Bodom and Hanoi Rocks, right? It was our first time there and i was struck by how rock is integrated into their culture. After the show, we saw a news program and they aired a special on rock music with footage from our concert."

― Wow, they featured Moi dix Mois on a regular news show?

"Yeah, that’s right. The cold, crisp atmosphere of Finland also left an impression. (laughs) We arrived late at night, so we didn’t have time for any sightseeing. That’s the biggest thing that stuck with me but the audience reaction was incredible."

― Finland’s government seems to be quite supportive of rock music, even promoting it as part of their culture, right?

"Ah...! Maybe that’s why. We were interviewed for TV, and they aired it during the night on a standard news program. I was surprised to see footage from our show being included in a regular news broadcast. But after hearing what you said, it kind of makes sense now."

― Next was Sweden, known as a haven for Nordic metal and melodic death metal. What were your thoughts before going?

"Before going, I had a strong image of Yngwie Malmsteen (laughs). I also had this vague image of beautiful scenery and a place I felt connected to. This was the only time we flew during the tour, and since we arrived during the day, the local promoter took us sightseeing. The area around our hotel was in the city center, and Stockholm was really lively. But if you walked a little further, the buildings and scenery were breathtakingly beautiful."

[witchrealms]

helsinki street fashion, march 2007

(x)

[eurovision-revisited]

Eurovision 2007: The Interval Act and Other Performances

YLE went for a mix of ice and fire for this year's extra performances. The semi-final was given over to dance troupe Tsuumi together with the Finnish Vocal Ensemble and operatic soloist Johanna Rusanen.

The opening played into this year's slogan with a mix of fantastical characters entertaining a little girl. This included a variety of circus tricks, stunts and accordions plus a lot of tango - Finland is very big on tango.

The dancers and musicians came back for the interval act, this time for a longer piece portraying the courtship and marriage of a dancer and a guitarist accompanied by opera and a choir.

To break-up the running order and to give some space for ads where relevant, there were some, now traditional, Eurovision short pieces showing the arrival of the performers and delegations at the airport, as well as several backstage shots from rehearsals. It gave time for the hosts to engage in a little bit of flirty back and forth including introducing our backstage host, Krisse Salminen who was initially credited as Eurovision fan who happened to have front-row seats.

For the final only Lordi would do - and they opened the show with more pyro than could ever comfortably fit in the arena. It was an explosive rendition of Hard Rock Hallelujah north of the Arctic Circle, pursued by demons over glaciers and through frozen woods in the depths of a Finnish winter.

Cut to the area, and there they are on stage performing the last chorus to the audience again with as much pyro as they could get past the health & safety teams. Lordi's reception by the crowd demonstrated not only how popular they had become in Finland, but also how popular their win had been among the wider Eurovision community. There was a palpable sense of excitement and enthusiasm as the final chords played.

For the interval, YLE continued with the big names. They had Apocalyptica (great name), a cello quartet who got their start with neo-classical cover versions of Metallica hits. They'd been touring Europe since the start of the decade only becoming more popular with their huge shows filled with drama to big audiences.

They were also popular in Germany as evidenced by them taking part in the 2005 Bundesvision Song Contest representing Baden-Württemberg and finishing fifth.

Among them were a number of circus artists including trapeze artists, acro-balance, tumblers, bike stunts and a man in a big rubber ball. Apocalyptica played a medley of three of their own hits albeit without singing.

During the main-show there were the usual cuts away, with more green room chats plus roving reporter Krisse went outdoors to see the crowds absolutely filling Helsinki's Senate Square in front of the Cathedral - it was rammed full, with tens of thousands of Finns having the nights of their lives.

Finland were truly loving hosting Eurovision and their moment in the spotlight. Scenes like this would only help the EBU smile and build Eurovision's size and importance in year's to come. 2007 is the year the growth of the good vibes and scale of Eurovision took on entirely new proportions. It felt good.

[valtionrautatiet-official]

An introduction to VR multiple units, part 5: Sm6

The Sm6 Allegro. When I started this series about our multiple units, I first thought I would cover the Sm6 in the "operated for others" -series, then thought I would leave it out altogether... but events overtook my plans and now I'm introducing them as VR's own multiple units, although they are not yet in operation as VR trains.

An Sm6 unit on the Kerava-Lahti line, currently the only bit of high-speed rail in Finland, 2011. Teemu Peltonen, Vaunut.org.

Since the 1990s, two daily return trains had been operated between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg, Russia: the Sibelius, which used VR carriages, and the Repin, which used RŽD carriages. In 2006, the two rail operators decided to replace the locomotive-hauled trains, which took five hours to make the trip, with jointly-owned high-speed trains. For this purpose, a new jointly-owned subsidiary Karelian Trains was established.

Two Sm6's during pre-service entry test runs at Vainikkala, the border station between Finland and Russia, with the locomotive-hauled St. Petersburg train Sibelius on the right. Lari Nylund, Vaunut.org.

After a round of tenders, Karelian Trains opted for the Pendolino design (already used by VR in the form of the Sm3) from Alstom in 2007, with four units to be delivered in 2010 (there was also an option for two additional units, which was never taken up). Although the exterior design of the new Sm6 units was almost identical to the Sm3, in terms of technology they feature numerous improvements compared to the older class, and were outfitted to operate both on the Russian and Finnish electric systems. Due to the small difference in gauge between the two countries (Russia uses 1520 mm but Finland 1524 mm) the trains were given near-unique gauge of 1522 mm.

Interior of the Sm6's first-class carriage as delivered. Otto Karikoski, Wikimedia Commons.

Branded Allegro, the new Sm6 units begun operations in December 2010, cutting the travel time between Helsinki and St. Petersburg to 3½ hours. In addition to services offered on Sm3 units, the Sm6 has (or perhaps more accurately had) a space for the border patrol to use, as passport control was done en-route on the train, and a kid's playroom. The original grey-dominated interiors were replaced by new, more colourful blue designs in 2018-2019.

The new interiors were not in use for long before the Covid-19 pandemic caused for passenger train services between Finland and Russia to be suspended in March 2020. The Allegro services were restored in December 2021 (the Helsinki-Moscow sleeper train Tolstoy, however, was not), and ran for less than four months until closed again in March 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (VR subsequently stopped freight traffic to Russia too - other Finnish rail operators continue to serve freight to and from Russia, however).

Second-class carriage in the post-2019 look. VR.

After March 2022, the four Sm6 units languished at VR's Ilmala depot in Helsinki, without maintenance as RŽD refused to make any payments for their share in Karelian Trains (which, although jointly Finnish-Russian owned, was registered in Finland). In March 2023, when Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin visited Kiev, Ukrainian Railroads requested the Sm6 units be handed over to them, but nothing ever came of this. Instead, in December 2023, when Karelian Trains was on the brink of bankruptcy due to RŽD not paying their share of the company's bills, VR bought out Karelian Trains and took over the Sm6 units.

The trains will be given a thorough technical refit, which will include removal of the systems to operate with Russian electrification, and will enter services on routes within Finland in 2025. How they will be branded is unknown, though a VR representative said in an interview they will not be called Allegro. Presumably this will make the Sm6 the first VR rolling stock class to be fully painted in the new livery.

[a-silent-symphony]

The 4 songs Nightwish have only performed live once

They’ve been around for two-and-a-half decades and played nearly 1,000 shows, and through it all symphonic metal’s superstars have only performed these songs one time

You can’t talk about symphonic metal without mentioning Nightwish. Not long after forming in the mid-1990s, Tuomas Holopainen’s majestic mavens became the measuring stick for the genre. They scored regular chart success in their native Finland while at the same time earning critical acclaim, thanks to their unencumbered, all-instruments-blaring vision.

Nightwish have written upwards of 100 songs since they started, and most of them have serenaded fans during their litany of live shows in that time. Hammer’s already listed the tracks that these maximalists have never once performed, but an even more exclusive club is that of the ones they brought out once then immediately scrapped. Below are the four songs Nightwish have only played live on a solitary occasion, according to setlist database setlist.fm.

Moondance (Oceanborn, 1998)

Nightwish’s debut, 1997’s Angels Fall First, was written and recorded with the intention of it being a demo, not a fully fledged studio album. As a result, it’s far more raw, rough and ready than anything else the Finns have ever unfurled. Followup Oceanborn swiftly chartered them down more grandiose avenues, and the instrumental Moondance is indicative of the more heroic sound the band craved: keyboardist Tuomas busts out a bombastic melody as his fellow musicians gallop along.

However, maybe because it would leave Nightwish’s vocalist with nothing to do for a bit, this segue’s only ever made the set once. It was at Club Feeniks in Turku, Finland, on February 13, 1999, performed as part of a broader instrumental suite towards the end of the night.

Sleepwalker (2000)

Oceanborn marked Nightwish’s commercial coming out party. Its lead single, Sacrament Of Wilderness, was the band’s first song to top the Finnish charts, then the album’s cover of Walking In The Air repeated that feat in 1999. Because of such success, the maestros decided to battle for a spot at the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest, hoping to represent their home nation with a newly written piece, Sleepwalker.

Sleepwalker won the public vote when Nightwish made their case on national TV to stand for Finland, but the scores of a judging panel brought them down to third place overall. The bid was disappointingly dashed, meaning that the sole performance of this song was to those stuffy judges in Helsinki on February 12, 2000.

Meadows Of Heaven (Dark Passion Play, 2007)

Nightwish brought the tour for 2007’s Dark Passion Play to an end in poetic fashion. Meadows Of Heaven is the final song on album six (the first to feature Anette Olzen behind the mic), and it ends 75 minutes of cinematic metal in appropriately operatic form. Its live debut was saved for the very last show the band played before retreating into the writing room to dream up Imaginaerum, aptly closing the main set.

Nightwish didn’t return to the stage until 2012, by which point they had 75 more minutes and 13 more songs in their arsenal. Unsurprisingly, then, Meadows Of Heaven became a one-and-done, but it served its role beautifully the one time it did rear its head.

Pan (Human :||: Nature, 2020)

Like many, many other metal bands, Nightwish saw the pandemic through by replacing the touring they should have done for 2020’s Human :||: Nature with a livestream. Actually, strike that: they hosted two. The band played a two-night set, dubbed An Evening With Nightwish In A Virtual World, which marked the debut of numerous songs from the preceding album, including Shoemaker, Tribal and Noise.

The only one that didn’t make it onto real-life stages was Pan. It’s a shame, as not only does the song continue Nightwish’s overblown ways unabated, but it flaunts some pretty gnarly riffs to boot. Sadly, though, the fact remains: this anthem was dispatched following its livestream debut. And, given that Nightwish are currently gearing up to release Human :||: Nature’s successor, it’s unlikely it’ll get its time in the sun.

[tailschannel]

SEGA president claims Sonic Frontiers sold 3.5 million units worldwide, becoming best-selling 3D title in franchise history

The hedgehog's latest title, Sonic Frontiers, apparently cleared another major milestone, if the words of the publisher's co-chief operating officer were anything to go by.

In a joint press conference with Rovio Entertainment last Tuesday, SEGASammy transmedia president Shuji Utsumi claimed that the open-zone game sold a worldwide total of 3.5 million copies.

If officialized by SEGA, it is widely expected that Frontiers will surpass Sonic Heroes to become the best-selling 3D-based title in the franchise's history, according to the last officially-disclosed sales data after 2007.

Even though the sales figure was said by a senior executive at SEGA, the number has yet to be corroborated by the parent company. In late April, SEGA Sammy Holdings officially disclosed to investors that the open-zone game distributed over 3.2 million copies, which contributed to a record-high of 8.1 million full game units sold for the Blue Blur.

The news came at a time when the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise enjoyed renewed success through its vast transmedia portfolio. At the press conference, held at Rovio's home turf in Helsinki, Finland, Utsumi touted Sonic's continued presence through merchandising, animation, and community building; and mused similar, potential developments with Rovio's Angry Birds property.

Tails' Channel reached out to SEGA Sammy Holdings for additional comment.

[warningsine]

HELSINKI (AP) — A 12-year-old student opened fire at a secondary school in southern Finland on Tuesday morning, killing one and seriously wounding two other students, police said. The suspect was later apprehended.

Heavily armed police cordoned off the Viertola school — a large educational institution including lower and upper secondary schools with a total of about 800 students — in the city of Vantaa, just outside the capital, Helsinki, after receiving a call about a shooting incident at 09:08 a.m.

Police said both the suspect and the victims were 12 years old.

One of the students had died instantly after being shot, Chief of Police Ilkka Koskimäki from the Eastern Uusimaa Police Department told a news conference. The other two were seriously wounded, he said.

The weapon used in the shooting was a registered handgun that was licensed to the suspect’s relative, Detective Inspector Kimmo Hyvärinen said.

The suspect was detained in the Helsinki area less than one hour after the shooting with a handgun in his possession, police said. He admitted to the shooting in an initial police hearing but there is no immediate word of the motive, police said, adding that the case is being investigated as a murder and two attempted murders.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo offered condolences to the families of the victims in postings on X with both saying they were shocked over the shooting.

“What makes it particularly shocking is the age of the victim and the suspect,” Orpo said during a news conference later Tuesday. “I can assure you that this (shooting) will be carefully reviewed and conclusions will be drawn that this will not happen again.”

The minimum age of criminal liability in Finland is 15 years, which means the suspect cannot be formally arrested. A suspect younger than 15 can only be heard by the police after which they will be handed over to Finland’s child welfare authorities.

In the past decades, Finland has witnessed two major deadly school shootings.

In November 2007, a 18-year-old student armed with a semi-automatic pistol opened fire at the premises of the Jokela high school in Tuusula, southern Finland, killing nine people. He was found dead with self-inflicted wounds.

Less than a year later, in September 2008, a 22-year-old student shot and killed 10 people with a semi-automatic pistol at a vocational college in Kauhajoki, southwestern Finland, before fatally shooting himself.

In the Nordic nation of 5.6 million, there are more than 1.5 million licensed firearms and about 430,000 license holders, according to the Finnish Interior Ministry. Hunting and gun-ownership have long traditions in the sparsely-populated northern European country.

Responsibility for granting permits for ordinary firearms rests with local police departments.

Following the school shootings in 2007 and 2008, Finland tightened its gun laws by raising the minimum age for firearms ownership and giving police greater powers to make background checks on individuals applying for a gun license.

The Interior Ministry said Finland will pay respects to the victims of the school shooting on Wednesday when all state agencies and institutions will lower the national flag to half staff. Private households are encouraged to join in the commemoration, the ministry said.