Finland knife attack suspect 'admits killing two and wounding eight in Turku'
A TEENAGED Moroccan asylum seeker has admitted killing two people and wounding eight in a knife attack in the Finnish city of Turku, his lawyer said.
Abderrahman Mechkah confessed to carrying out Friday's attack but didn't admit to a terrorist motive
In a closed-door court hearing, 18-year-old Abderrahman Mechkah confessed to carrying out Friday's attack but did not admit to having terrorist motive, lawyer Kaarle Gummerus said.
Mr Gummerus said: “(My client) admits manslaughter and injuries... But what the investigator has brought up this far may not be enough to classify this as a terrorist crime."
Mechkah appeared in court via video link from hospital, where he is being treated after being shot in the leg by police following the stabbings.
The court ordered Mechkah, who has yet to be charged with any offence, to be detained in prison pending trial.
Three other Moroccan men detained over possible links to the attack were due in court today.
A fifth Moroccan who had also been under arrest was released, the court said.
Mechkah appeared in court via video link from hospital
The teenager admitted to killing two people
The investigation is the first into suspected terrorism-related crimes in Finland's history.
Gummerus said it was “impossible to take a final stance at the moment” on the issue of whether the stabbings were terrorism-related.
The attack killed two people and wounded eight
Pedestrians flee following stabbing in Turku, Finland
Investigators have not made clear what role the three other Moroccans, who deny involvement in the attack, are suspected of playing.
Police said they had issued an international arrest warrant for a fifth Moroccan national.