KAUHAJOKI , Finland, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A national day of mourning was declared in Finland for Wednesday, the day after a vocational school shooting left 11 people dead, including the gunman.
Police said the assailant, 22-year-old Matti Juhani Saari, entered the school in Kauhajoki in western Finland, and opened fire on students before turning the gun on himself, Helsingin Sanomat reported. Saari, a second-year culinary arts student, was taken to a hospital, where he died from head injuries.
Officials said identifying the victims was difficult because many of the victims were burned in a fire that broke out in connection with the shootings. Law enforcement officials said they think nine people died of gunshot wounds and at least one died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Helsingin Sanomat said.
The building, which had about 150 students, faculty and staff inside at the time of the shooting, was evacuated. Police said other people sustained minor injuries.
