Two Killed in Finland stabbing

(Vatican Radio) A suspected assailant has been shot in the leg and detained after a stabbing incident in Turku, south-west Finland.Two of the victims died, and six were injured in the attack.

From Turku, listen to this report by Matthew French:

Eight people were attacked by a knife-wielding man in Turku on Friday afternoon just after 4 o'clock.Two of the victims died, one at the scene and the other subsequently in hospital where six were being treated for their injuries.

Police said they shot the man who attacked several people and he has been taken into custody after being shot in the leg.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation took over from the Turku police department, and the security intelligence police are also involved in the investigation.

Police said that the incident was not being investigated as a terror attack, but that could change as new information comes to light. 

The police are investigating whether the attacker acted alone or whether he had any accomplices.

Interior Minister Paula Risikko speaking at a press conference said they were close contact with immigration authorities and others to find out more about the suspect, but his identity has not being released -- although he is desctibed 'foreign-looking'.

Overnight police raided a flat and made a number of arrests in the Varisuo area, a suburb to the south east of Turku, with a large immigrant population.

Finnish police raised their readiness across the country in the wake of a stabbing incident in central Turku on Friday.

Airports and railway stations are a particular focus, and armed response units may be seen on the streets.