2016 Helsinki Asema-aukio assault: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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The '''2016 Helsinki Asema-aukio assault''' happened on 10 September 2016, when Jesse Tornianen, a member of the [[Finnish Resistance Movement]], a [[Neo-Nazi]] organisation, attacked a passer-by who had argued with the demonstrators and spit on them with a jumping kick.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAP0WyOMnwE&t=36s Uusnatsi Jesse Torniaiselle tuomio Asema-aukion hyppypotkusta], MTV Uutiset. Accessed on 10 March 2023.</ref> Because of the kick, the 28-year-old Jimi Joonas Karttunen<ref>[http://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000001265006.html Miksi Asema-aukion pahoinpitelyn uhri kuoli päästyään sairaalasta? – Ylilääkäri: "Jotain hyvin odottamatonta on tapahtunut"], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 20 September 2016. Accessed on 21 June 2017.</ref> fell down, hit his head to the street and suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. Karttunen was rushed to the [[Töölö Hospital]], which he later left despite the hospital staff's recommendation to stay at the hospital.<ref name="uusisuomi">[https://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/211277-juuri-nyt-tuomio-julki-asema-aukion-tapauksessa Tuomio julki Asema-aukion tapauksessa – syyte kuolemantuottamuksesta nurin], ''[[Uusi Suomi]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 12 January 2017.</ref><ref>Miettinen, Johanna: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/201612302200047372_uu.shtml Näin oikeus tulkitsi Asema-aukion tapausta: Hyppypotku ei välttämättä aiheuttanut kuolemaa], ''[[Iltalehti]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref><ref name="autio">Autio, Sari: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171658/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005015759.html Valvontakameran video Asema-aukion tragediasta julki – näin kaikki tapahtui], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 21 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref><ref>Järvinen, Elina: [http://suomenkuvalehti.fi/jutut/kotimaa/uusnatsi-jesse-torniainen-potkaisi-jimi-karttunen-kuoli-mita-tapahtui-sita-jalkeen/ Uusnatsi Jesse Torniainen potkaisi, Jimi Karttunen kuoli – Mitä tapahtui sitä ennen ja sen jälkeen?], ''[[Suomen Kuvalehti]]'' 20 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref> He died about a week after the assault on 16 September 2016 at the [[Meilahti Hospital]].<ref name="autio"/><ref name="mattila">Mattila, Sanni: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016091722330783_uu.shtml Asema-aukion uhriksi joutuneen pojan isä: "Lääkäri kertoi, ettei mitään ole tehtävissä"], ''[[Iltalehti]]'' 17 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref><ref name="väntönen">Väntönen, Elina: [http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1474256404227 Yhteenveto: Mitä Asema-aukion pahoinpitelystä tiedetään, ketä epäillään, mitä oikeastaan tapahtui?], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 19 September 2016. Accessed on 20 September 2016.</ref><ref name="niemeläinen">Niemeläinen, Jussi; Palttala, Pipsa: [http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/a1474164748028 Poliisi otti yhden kiinni Asema-aukion pahoinpitelystä – mies ilmoittautui itse poliisille], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 18 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref><ref name="sipilä">Sipilä, Jarkko: [https://web.archive.org/web/20161221083502/http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/rikos/artikkeli/syyttaja-asema-aukion-pahoinpitelysta-ilmeisesti-uhri-kutsui-lipunkantajia-rasistipelleiksi/6222024 Syyttäjä asema-aukion pahoinpitelystä: "Ilmeisesti uhri kutsui lipunkantajia rasistipelleiksi"], MTV 21 December 2016. Accessed on 21 December 2016.</ref> The perpetrator had a criminal background.
On 30 December 2016, the district court gave Torniainen a sentence of two years in [[prison]] without parole for severe assault. The court did not see that there would be a connection between Karttunen's death and the jumping kick, so the charge of severe manslaughter was dismissed. The [[prosecutor]] appealed this to the [[hovrätt|court of appeals]], who raised Tornianen's sentence to two years and three months in prison. The court based this on Torniainen's racist motive.<ref name="koski">Koski, Sami: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/201801262200697542_u0.shtml Hovioikeus korotti Jesse Torniaisen tuomiota rasistisen motiivin vuoksi - 2 vuotta ja kolme kuukautta vankeutta], ''[[Iltalehti]]''. Accessed on 20 March 2018.</ref>
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==Course of the events==
[[File:Jesse Torniainen (01).jpg|thumb|right|The perpetrator Jesse Torniainen at the far-right "612" parade in 2017.]]
===Demonstration and assault===
The Finnish Resistance Movement held a demonstration in [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] on the Asema-aukio square in front of the restaurant [[Vltava (restaurant)|Vltava]] on Saturday 10 September 2016. A member of the movement had told the police about the event in advance saying they would be handing out pamphlets,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160918131641/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000001263551.html Poliisi: Vastarintaliikkeen katutapahtuma Helsingissä oli muuta kuin ilmoitettiin], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 18 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref><ref>Vuorio, Jukka: [http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1474257354356?ref=a-uusim-#9 Uusnatsien ilmoitus Asema-aukion tilaisuudesta ei vastannut todellisuutta – Poliisi: "Meidän on pakko luottaa niihin tietoihin, mitä on annettu"], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 19 September 2016.</ref> but had not mentioned the Finnish Resistance Movement.<ref>Mattinen, Johanna: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016091822335858_uu.shtml SVL jätti järjestön nimen ilmoituksesta pois - "Totta kai olisi muuttanut asiaa"], ''[[Iltalehti]]''. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref> Because of this, the [[police]] were not present to watch over the event. A video shot at the event shows a [[police car]] handling another case at the vicinity of the station and leaving at about 12:45. At the time of the assault there were no police patrols in the area.<ref>Leinonen, Nina: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016092022345996_uu.shtml Poliisi ei ollut paikalla uusnatsien mielenosoituksessa - videolla näkynyt partio hoiti toista tehtävää], ''[[Iltalehti]]''. Accessed on 20 September 2016.</ref><ref name="poliisiauto">[https://web.archive.org/web/20161222070048/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005015995.html Poliisiauto pysähtyi oudosti vain 40 sekunnin ajaksi Asema-aukiolle – selitys löytyy tragedian esitutkintapöytäkirjasta], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 21 December 2016. Accessed on 22 December 2016.</ref>
The assault is shown on a recording of the security camera. A group of people were standing at the demonstration on the edge of the walking path in a row holding [[flag]]s of the movement and handing out pamphlets describing the [[notion (philosophy)|notion]] of the movement. The victim of the assault, 28-year-old Jimi Karttunen, had been walking with his friends from the Helsinki main post office to the [[Helsinki Central railway station]]. When passing the people holding flags Karttunen had stopped, spit in front of them and said a negative opinion about the Finnish Resistance Movement.<ref>Myllymäki, Laura: [http://www.ts.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/3139649/Esitutkintamateriaalista+uutta+tietoa++nain+tapahtumat+etenivat+Asemaaukion+pahoinpitelyssa Esitutkintamateriaalista uutta tietoa – näin tapahtumat etenivät Asema-aukion pahoinpitelyssä], ''[[Turun Sanomat]]'' 21 December 2016. Accessed on 3 January 2017.</ref><ref name="sairaalahoito">[https://web.archive.org/web/20161223164632/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005015429.html Asema-aukion tragedia: Uhria kehotettiin jäämään sairaalahoitoon], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 21 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/470295-pohjoismaisen-vastarintaliikkeen-jasen-vankilaan-syyte-kuolemantuottamuksesta Pohjoismaisen vastarintaliikkeen jäsen vankilaan – syyte kuolemantuottamuksesta hylättiin], ''[[Helsingin Uutiset]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref><ref name="kohuttu">[https://web.archive.org/web/20161230160538/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005026009.html Kohutusta Asema-aukion pahoinpitelystä tänään tuomio – oliko pahoinpitely törkeä vai ei?], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 30 December 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016091822335462_uu.shtml Poliisi ehti puhuttaa uhrin ennen kuolemaa - epäilty ilmoittautui itse], ''[[Iltalehti]]'' 18 September 2016. Accessed on 3 January 2017.</ref> After this, Jesse Torniainen, who had been standing on the other edge of the row in the direction of the station, sprinted towards Karttunen and kicked him hard on the chest. Karttunen fell down and hit his head. Torniainen remained at the scene for a while, but when people helped the victim stand up, he left. According to the security video other demonstrators had also gathered for a while to inspect the victim's wounds, after which they picked up their things related to the demonstration and left.<ref name="väntönen"/><ref>Vainio, Juha: [http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/poliisi-asema-aukion-vakivallanteosta-potku-on-tallentunut-nauhalle/738647/ Poliisi Asema-aukion väkivallanteosta: "Potku on tallentunut nauhalle"], ''[[Kaleva (newspaper)|Kaleva]]'' 19 September 2016. Accessed on 20 September 2016.</ref><ref name="mattila2">Mattila, Sanni: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016091722332205_uu.shtml 28-vuotiaana kuolleen Jimin kohtalo koskettaa - Rautatieasemalle tuodaan kynttilöitä], ''[[Iltalehti]]'' 17 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref><ref name="blencowe">Blencowe, Annette: [http://yle.fi/uutiset/helsingin_asema-aukion_pahoinpitely_tama_tiedetaan_nyt/9177937 Helsingin Asema-aukion pahoinpitely: Tämä tiedetään nyt], YLE 19 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref>
The police arrived at the scene at 13:03, talked to a passer-by at the scene and left to search for the suspect. The police were told that an [[ambulance]] had been called. The victim's friends helped him to the station, where the ambulance picked him up at 13:13. The victim was first taken to the Meilahti Hospital and from there to the [[intensive care unit]] at the Töölö Hospital because of brain damage in cerebral haemorrhage.<ref name="sipilä"/><ref name="poliisiauto"/><ref name="uusnatsi">[http://suomenkuvalehti.fi/jutut/kotimaa/uusnatsi-jesse-torniainen-potkaisi-jimi-karttunen-kuoli-mita-tapahtui-sita-jalkeen/ Uusnatsi Jesse Torniainen potkaisi, Jimi Karttunen kuoli – Mitä tapahtui sitä ennen ja sen jälkeen?], ''[[Suomen Kuvalehti]]'' 20 December 2016. Accessed on 21 December 2016.</ref>
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In hospital, Karttunen took medicines classified as [[narcotic]]s. He also left the department on many care days.<ref name="huumeet">[http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000005026978.html Liittyivätkö huumeet Asema-aukiolla pahoinpidellyn miehen kuolemaan? Lääkäreillä päinvastaiset näkemykset], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 31 December 2016.</ref>
Karttunen was sent home from hospital by his own will on Thursday next week against the hospital's recommendation.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161222070058/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005015429.html Asema-aukion tragedia: Uhria kehotettiin jäämään sairaalahoitoon], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 21 December 2016. Accessed on 22 December 2016.<name="sairaalahoito"/ref><ref name="järvinen"/> On Friday he began to feel ill at his home and managed to dial the [[emergency telephone number]] before [[unconsciousness|losing consciousness]]. On the next day Karttunen was found unconscious in his apartment with many empty cans of [[Clonazepam|Ritravil]] around him. He was treated at the Meilahti Hospital for narcotic poisoning and was given many antidotes against narcotics.<ref name="huumeet"/> The hospital diagnosed him for cerebral haemorrhage and swelling of the brain. Karttunen died in hospital that evening.<ref name="uusnatsi"/>
===Pretrial investigation===
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Jesse Torniainen, a member of the Finnish Resistance Movement suspected of the assault turned himself in to the police.<ref>[http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016091822335462_uu.shtml Poliisi ehti puhuttaa uhrin ennen kuolemaa - epäilty ilmoittautui itse], ''[[Iltalehti]]''. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref>
==Trials and sentence==
The Helsinki district court imprisoned Torniainen at an imprisonment trial held on 21 September 2016 and he was released from investigation imprisonment on 19 October. During the police interrogation he denied all charges presented towards him. On 21 December 2016 he was read the charges against him and the trial proper started at the Helsinki district court.<ref>[http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/201612202200043472_uu.shtml Asema-aukion törkeä pahoinpitely oikeudessa - epäilty uusnatsiaktiivi vastaa syytteisiin vapaalta], ''[[Iltalehti]]''. Accessed on 21 December 2016.</ref>
At the district court, the prosecutor demanded a sentence of 5.5 to 6 years of imprisonment for Torniainen for severe assault and severe manslaughter. He demanded that the sentence be lenghtened because of Torniainen's previous criminal background and the racist motive. According to the defense, a suitable sentence would have been 1.5 years of prison with parole, based on the great amount of publicity caused by the event. According to the defense, the victim's death was influenced by him leaving the hospital to early. The defense also claimed that the victim had caused his own death himself with the use of intoxicants and narcotics. According to the prosecutor the medical statements proved that the victim's use of intoxicants and narcotics had no connection to his death. The suspect Jesse Torniainen told the district court that his motive had been that the victim had threatened members of the Finnish Resistance Movement with violence.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161221235853/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005016277.html Syyttäjä vaatii Asema-aukion tragediasta kuuden vuoden vankeusrangaistusta], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 21 December 2016. Accessed on 21 December 2016.</ref> According to the prosecutor the motive had been a disagreement about the values of the Finnish Resistance Movement between the victim and the perpetrator.<ref name="kohuttu"/>
===Sentence===
The district court gave its sentence on 30 December 2016. Torniainen was sentenced to two years in prison for severe assault. In giving its sentence, the district court accepted the prosecutor's demand of lenghtening the sentence as Torniainen had previously been sentenced for five crimes.<ref name="tutkinnanjohtaja">[http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9379662 Tutkinnanjohtaja: Törkeästä kuolemantuottamuksesta epäilty kuuluu Vastarintaliikkeen perustajiin], YLE. Accessed on 3 February 2017.</ref><ref>Gustafsson, Mikko: [https://web.archive.org/web/20161231183427/http://www.aamulehti.fi/kotimaa/juuri-nyt-syyttaja-vie-asema-aukion-pahoinpitelyn-hoviin-24173819 Syyttäjä vie Asema-aukion pahoinpitelyn hoviin], ''[[Aamulehti]]''. Accessed on 30 December 2016.</ref> Each of these crimes had been at least partly because of violence.<ref name="tutkinnanjohtaja"/> The court dismissed the charge of severe manslaughter and the demand of lenghtening the sentence because of a racist motive.<ref name="mölsä">Mölsä, Ari: [http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9379662 Asema-aukion hyppypotku: 2 vuotta vankeutta törkeästä pahoinpitelystä], YLE 30 December 2016. Accessed on 30 December 2016.</ref>
According to the court the assault had been severe because of it had come as a surprise to the victim, it had been directed against a previously unknown person on the street and the victim had had no chance to defend himself. Torniainen's jump kick had caused Karttunen to fall down and caused him to fracture his skull, damage his brain and receive a cerebral haemorrhage. The court also stated the assault had been severe because it had been done during a previously announced public event as a part of "the activity of a national socialist organisation and the defense of this activity". The reason for lenghtening Torniainen's prison sentence was his earlier sentences of violent crimes.<ref name="mölsä"/>
The court refused the prosecutor's demand of charges for severe manslaughter because there had been no connection between the jump kick and the victim's death.<ref name="mölsä"/> According to the court it had been possible that the victim's own activity, such as leaving the hospital against the staff's recommendation, could have significantly affected the worsening of his cerebral haemorrhage. The court stated that according to the medical statement, the victim had not committed himself ot proper care, but "he had stopped hospital care on his own initiative against the staff's recommendation, left the hospital and immediately after the treatment and possibly also during it used intoxicants and medicines he had not been prescribed by the physicians".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161230114632/http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/rikos/artikkeli/oikeus-langetti-asema-aukion-hyppypotkusta-vankeutta/6245950 Oikeus langetti asema-aukion hyppypotkusta kaksi vuotta vankeutta], MTV 30 December 2016. Accessed on 30 December 2016.</ref><ref name="uusisuomi"/> The neurological surgeon who had treated the victim told the court that the use of intoxicants subjects the person to new wounds on the head and a new head wound can be fatal for a person recovering from a brain damage wound.<ref name="mattinen">Mattinen, Johanna: [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/201612302200047372_uu.shtml Näin oikeus tulkitsi Asema-aukion tapausta: Hyppypotku ei välttämättä aiheuttanut kuolemaa], ''[[Iltalehti]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref><ref name="huumeet"/><ref>Rimpiläinen, Tuomas: [http://www.kaleva.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uusnatsi-torniainen-tuomittiin-asema-aukion-hyppypotkusta-mutta-ei-uhrin-kuolemasta/747566/ Uusnatsi Torniainen tuomittiin Asema-aukion hyppypotkusta, mutta ei uhrin kuolemasta], ''[[Kaleva (newspaper)|Kaleva]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 3 January 2017.</ref> The surgeon also said that the victim had had a good prediction of recovering from his brain damage wound and he had suffered no neurological symptoms during his treatment. The surgeon also said he felt it was extremely rare that a cerebral haemorrhage would still worsen in the brain three days after receiving the head wound.<ref name="mattinen"/><ref name="huumeet"/> The prosecutor immediately said he intended to take the matter to the court of appeals<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161230114613/http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/rikos/artikkeli/syyttaja-vie-helsingin-asema-aukion-pahoinpitelyjutun-hoviin/6246044 Syyttäjä vie Helsingin Asema-aukion pahoinpitelyjutun hoviin], MTV 30 December 2016. Accessed on 30 December 2016.</ref> because of the connection between the jump kick and the victim's death<ref>Aalto, Maija; Jokinen, Juha: [http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000005026071.html Uusnatsiaktiivi tuomittiin Asema-aukion pahoinpitelystä kahdeksi vuodeksi vankilaan – syyttäjä valittaa hovioikeuteen], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref> and probably also because of the racist motive.<ref>Gustafsson, Mikko: [http://www.suomenmaa.fi/uutiset/asemaaukion-pahoinpitelyn-kasittely-jatkuu--syyttaja-vie-jutun-hovioikeuteen-6.3.190038.8cfe27a37c Asema-aukion pahoinpitelyn käsittely jatkuu – syyttäjä vie jutun hovioikeuteen], ''Suomenmaa'' 30 December 2016. Accessed on 2 January 2017.</ref>
The prosecutor took the matter to the [[hovrätt|court of appeals]], which raised Torniainen's prison sentence to two years and three months on 26 January 2018. The court based this on the perpetrator's racist motive as the victim had stated he opposed the values represented by the racist organisation. The court could not dismiss the notion that the victim's use of medicine and narcotics against his treatment could have influenced his recovery from his brain damage. The charge for manslaughter was dismissed as the severe assault could not be shown to have a connection to the victim's death.<ref name="koski"/> Torniainen requested permission to appeal the matter to the [[Supreme Court of Finland]].<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10137254 Asema-aukion hyppypotkun tuomiosta haetaan valituslupaa korkeimmasta oikeudesta], YLE Uutiset 28 March 2018. Accessed on 19 July 2018.</ref> The request was denied so the sentence given by the court of appeals remained in force.<ref>Leppänen, Mikko: [https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10456759 KKO ei myönnä valituslupaa Jesse Torniaiselle Helsingin asema-aukion hyppypotkujutussa], YLE Uutiset 15 October 2018. Accessed on 19 October 2018.</ref>
==Reactions==
[[File:Makeshift memorial to the victim of the far-right assault outside Helsinki Central Station.jpg|thumb|right|Flowers and candles in memory of the victim in front of the Helsinki Central railway station.]]
[[File:Me emme unohda - RIP Jimi.jpg|thumb|right|A memorial in memory of the victim at the Asema-aukio square in September 2024.]]
Flowers and candles were brought at the front doors of the [[Helsinki Central railway station]] on the evening of Saturday 17 September 2016 and people also stopped at the scene.<ref name="mattila2"/> The actual memorial place is not in front of the main doors, but instead near the entrance on the Asema-aukio square where the assault happened. There were memorials for the victim also in other cities such as [[Tampere]]<ref>Tykki, Emilia: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160920221210/http://www.aamulehti.fi/kotimaa/yhdessa-fasismia-vastaan-kynttilat-syttyivat-keskustorin-suihkulahteen-ymparille/ "Yhdessä fasismia vastaan" – kynttilät syttyivät Keskustorin suihkulähteen ympärille], ''[[Aamulehti]]''. Accessed on 21 September 2016.</ref> and [[Jyväskylä]].<ref>[http://www.ksml.fi/kotimaa/V%C3%A4kivaltaa-vastaan-muodostettiin-syd%C3%A4n-%E2%80%93-Uhka-tuntuu-todelliselta-Jyv%C3%A4skyl%C3%A4ss%C3%A4kin/840173 Väkivaltaa vastaan muodostettiin sydän – "Uhka tuntuu todelliselta Jyväskylässäkin"], ''[[Keskisuomalainen]]''. Accessed on 21 September 2016.</ref>
The event was also reported by the press in [[Sweden]].<ref>[http://www.gp.se/nyheter/v%C3%A4rlden/en-gripen-f%C3%B6r-helsingforsmisshandel-1.3795055 En gripen för Helsingforsmisshandel], ''[[Göteborgs-Posten]]'' 18 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref> There were memorials for the victim in [[Stockholm]] and [[Gothenburg]] on 25 September.<ref>[https://twitter.com/KampaSTHLM/status/778143495869591552 KämpaSTHLM Eventet för söndagen], KämpaSTHLM on [[Twitter]]. Accessed on 21 September 2016.</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/KampaSTHLM/status/778512917339770880 KämpaSTHLM Samling i Göteborg], KämpaSTHLM on [[Twitter]]. Accessed on 21 September 2016.</ref> The [[Antifascistisk Aktion]] movement in Stockholm also held a memorial for Karttunen.<ref>A. F. A. Stockholm: [https://twitter.com/afasthlm/status/780124192293449728 Jimis död visar att det behövs en aktiv och förebyggande antifascism. Vila i styrka Jimi.pic.twitter.com/3qBzmrXjYT], @afasthlm 25 September 2016. Accessed on 29 June 2017.</ref>
===Reactions by politicians===
The government also reacted to the event. [[President of Finland]] [[Sauli Niinistö]] said at a press conference held at a refugee meeting in [[New York City]] that the violence that had occurred at the Helsinki Asema-aukio square cannot be accepted. According to Niinistö membership in an organisation that has criminal principles or purposes is also illegal.<ref>[http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2016091922342593_uu.shtml Presidentti Niinistö uusnatsien väkivallasta: Suomessa rasismi on rikos], ''[[Iltalehti]]'' 19 September 2016. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref> [[Prime Minister of Finland]] [[Juha Sipilä]] said it was important to investigate the legality of organisations aimed at violent action. [[Timo Soini]], chairman of the [[Finns Party]], condemned violence in his blog post. The Minister of Treasury [[Petteri Orpo]] said that violent organisations should be outlawed.<ref name="blencowe"/> The Minister of Internal Affairs [[Paula Risikko]] said that the legality of far-right organisations should be reinvestigated.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1474163587995 Sisäministeri Risikko Asema-aukion pahoinpitelystä: Äärijärjestöjen toiminnan laillisuus arvioidaan uudelleen], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]''. Accessed on 19 September 2016.</ref>
===Demonstrations===
A demonstration against political violence was held in Helsinki on 24 September<ref>[https://www.radiohelsinki.fi/podcast/36618/?Lauantaina+vihellet%C3%A4%C3%A4n+peli+poikki+rasismille+ja+hiljaisuudelle! Lauantaina vihelletään peli poikki rasismille ja hiljaisuudelle!], ''Radio Helsinki''. Accessed on 21 September 2016.</ref> with former President of Finland [[Tarja Halonen]] speaking at the demonstration.<ref>[http://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/437007-presidentti-halonen-aarioikeiston-vastaiseen-mielenosoitukseen-toinenkin Presidentti Halonen äärioikeiston vastaiseen mielenosoitukseen – toinenkin vastaprotesti Helsinkiin], ''[[Helsingin Uutiset]]'' 23 September 2016. Accessed on 23 September 2016.</ref> The demonstration was attended by about 15 thousand people.<ref>Aalto, Maija; Bäckgren, Noona; Hakkarinen, Kaisa; Viljamaa, Anne; Vaarne, Ville: [http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/a1474680188086 15 000 ihmisen rasisminvastainen mielenosoitus hiljeni kuuntelemaan Finlandiaa Senaatintorilla – vastamielenosoituksissa joitain kymmeniä], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 24 September 2016. Accessed on 24 September 2016.</ref> Outside Finland, the demonstration was covered at least by ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]'',<ref>[http://www.dn.se/nyheter/varlden/tusentals-demonstrerade-i-finland Tusentals demonstrerade i Finland], ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]''.</ref> [[Bloomberg L.P.]]<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-09-24/finns-say-enough-is-enough-during-anti-nazi-demonstrations Finns Say 'Enough Is Enough' During Anti-Nazi Demonstrations], [[Bloomberg L.P.]]</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/25/finns-protest-against-racism-after-man-assaulted-at-neo-nazi-rally-dies Finns protest against racism after man assaulted at neo-Nazi rally dies], ''[[The Guardian]]'' 25 September 2016. Accessed on 25 September 2016.</ref> Demonstrations outside Helsinki in Finland were held in Tampere, Jyväskylä, [[Kuopio]], [[Oulu]] and [[Joensuu]]. Each of these demonstrations was attended by about 50 to 500 people. Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä attended the demonstration in Kuopio.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160925154553/http://www.hameensanomat.fi/uutiset/uutiset/315068-15-000-ihmista-vastusti-rasismia-helsingin-keskustassa], ''[[Hämeen Sanomat]]''. Accessed on 24 September 2016.</ref>
===Political consequences===
Because of Karttunen's death, the event centre for the state council in Finland now also informs the prime minister about matters related to the citizens' safety around the clock.<ref>Löf, Marika: [http://www.ess.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/art2304786 Pääministeri Sipilä: Tilannekeskuksen ohjeistusta muutettiin äärijärjestöistä nousseen kohun takia], ''[[Etelä-Suomen Sanomat]]'' 24 September 2016. Accessed on 25 September 2016.</ref> A discussion about far-right movements and violence in Finland was held at the [[Parliament of Finland]] on 5 October 2016. The initiative to hold this discussion was signed by each party at the parliament.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161006051217/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-2000001920488.html?ref=rss ISTV Live klo 14: Suomen ääriliikkeet ja väkivalta puhuttavat eduskunnassa], ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'' 5 October 2016. Accessed on 5 October 2016.</ref>
In October 2016 the [[Prosecutor General of Finland]] said it would not seek outlawing the [[Nordic Resistance Movement]],<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9253651 altakunnansyyttäjänvirasto ei vaadi uusnatsistista Suomen Vastarintaliikettä lakkautettavaksi – Poliisihallitus pohtii vielä], YLE Uutiset 26 October 2016. Accessed on 8 December 2017.</ref> but the Police Board made a demand to outlaw the movement on 2 March 2017.<ref>Tenhunen, Asta: [https://web.archive.org/web/20170720132111/http://www.savonsanomat.fi/kotimaa/Uusnatsit-palkitsivat-Aseman-aukion-rajun-pahoinpitelyn-tekij%C3%A4n/1017295#cxrecs_s Uusnatsit palkitsivat Aseman-aukion rajun pahoinpitelyn tekijän], ''[[Savon Sanomat]]'' 20 July 2017. Accessed on 20 July 2017.</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9488613 Poliisihallitus jätti kanteen Vastarintaliikkeen lakkauttamiseksi], YLE Uutiset. Accessed on 20 July 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005017379.html Poliisihallitus nostaa kanteen Pohjoismaisen vastarintaliikkeen lakkauttamiseksi], ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' 22 December 2016. Accessed on 20 July 2017.</ref> On 30 November 2017 the district court of Pirkanmaa declared the Nordic Resistance Movement as discontinued because of illegal and blatantly tasteless activity.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9953919 Käräjäoikeus kieltää uusnatsijärjestön toiminnan – Pohjoismainen Vastarintaliike lakkautetaan], YLE Uutiset 30 November 2017. Accessed on 8 December 2017.</ref> The court of appeals in Turku upheld this decision in September 2018.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10428598 Hovioikeus lakkauttaa uusnatsistisen Pohjoismaisen Vastarintaliikkeen – yleinen etu vaatii toiminnan kieltämistä], YLE Uutiset 28 September 2018. Accessed on 25 January 2020.</ref> This decision did not come into force until the matter had been discussed at the Supreme Court of Finland. The supreme court ordered the activity of the movement to be temporarily forbidden and ceased until a final solution had been found for the matter.<ref>[https://korkeinoikeus.fi/fi/index/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/2019/03/kkomyonsipohjoismaisellevastarintaliikkeellevalitusluvanjakielsivaliaikaisestisentoiminnan.html KKO myönsi Pohjoismaiselle vastarintaliikkeelle valitusluvan ja kielsi väliaikaisesti sen toiminnan], Supreme Court of Finland 28 September 2019. Accessed on 2 February 2020.</ref> The Nordic Resistance Movement was permanently outlawed on 22 September 2020.<ref>[https://www.ksml.fi/uutissuomalainen/3115603 KKO lakkautti Pohjoismaisen vastarintaliikkeen, mutta jäseniä on jo siirtynyt uusiin ryhmiin – Poliisihallitus toivoo, ettei tilanteesta tulisi oravanpyörää], ''[[Keskisuomalainen]]'' 22 September 2020. Accessed on 19 May 2021.</ref>
==See also==
* [[Jyväskylä library stabbing]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Finnish far right}}
[[Category:Crime in Helsinki]]
[[Category:2016 crimes in Finland]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in Finland]]