NBI: Suspect Had Made Threats

Ibrahim Shkupolli, who is believed to have shot and killed five people in Espoo Thursday before taking his own life, made numerous threats of violence in the past. Chief Inspector Tero Haapala of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation told YLE that police were aware of his repeated threats against his ex-girlfriend.

Haapala said that investigators are looking into the various threats Shkupolli made in the past. Police are not sure if he visited the Sello shopping centre on Wednesday to make more threats, or not. Chief Inspector Haapala added that now in hindsight it can be said that in addition to a restraining order against him initiated by his ex-girlfriend, other measures should perhaps have been considered.
In addition to convictions in 2003 and 2007 on weapons violations, Shkupolli also had a record for theft, drug charges and making threats of violence against others.
His ex-girlfriend, who was one of his victims on Thursday, was employed at the Sello shopping centre. As of Thursday evening, it was still unclear if Shkupolli shot and killed her before or after he went to the mall where he shot four others.
The restraining order issued by an Espoo court noted that Shkupolli had threatened the life and safety of his ex-girlfriend and her family. It was the view of the court that he was capable of carrying out his threats.
It also noted that Shkupolli had, in the past, gone to the Sello shopping centre to threaten his former partner.