Updated at 21.50
Two people are dead and six are injured after a man stabbed several people in the south-western city of Turku, Finnish police have said.
The suspected attacker has been shot and arrested.
Reuters reports that officials had yet to establish the identity of the man - who appeared to be of foreign origin - or the motive for the attack.
After an emergency meeting of the Finnish government this evening, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä said: “The act is utterly deplorable and an exceptionally serious violent offence in the Finnish context – it is deeply shocking for us all.
“I thank the police and other authorities for their professional and swift action. The perpetrator was arrested very quickly."
His government also expressed "its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and injured", and wished those injured "a speedy recovery".
It has been confirmed that no Irish citizens were involved in the incident:
No Irish citizen was involved in #Turku incident, Finnish authorities have confirmed. @dfatirl @dfatravelwise @IrishPassport #Suomi
— IrishEmbassyFinland (@IrishEmbFinland) August 18, 2017
Security at trains stations and at Helsinki Airport was stepped up following the attack.
It claimed that a woman with a pushchair had been attacked by a man with a large knife.
Multiple ambulances, fire engines, and police cars are attending the centre of the city, which is 90 miles west of Helsinki.
Petri Burtsov is a foreign news journalist with the Finnish state broadcaster YLE.
He told Newstalk Drive that the centre of the city was evacuated after the incident.
Additional reporting: Jack Quann