The father and mother of the family, Tommy and Karoliina Karf, are now the subject of a European arrest warrant. Photo: Poliisi / Polisen
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Finnish police have issued a European arrest warrant for Tommy and Karoliina Karf, whose family disappeared from western Finland in May 2024.
The warrant allows for cross-border cooperation between police forces in the European Union. It also increases the likelihood of arrest should the couple be located abroad.
The Karfs are suspected of serious crimes including aggravated deprivation of liberty, aggravated assault, and aggravated human trafficking.
They are also suspected of unlawfully removing their children from protective custody.
The family of ten was last seen in the municipality of Pedersöre, Ostrobothnia. At the time of their disappearance, the mother was pregnant with an eighth child. The children were all born between 2007 and 2021.
Police say the Karfs took their children from a child protection facility in the town of Nykarleby without authorisation. The children had been placed in care earlier in 2024 after a neighbour contacted authorities over concerns for their safety.
The removal of the children led to a national search, but no confirmed sightings have been reported since. The arrest warrant is part of efforts to widen the investigation beyond Finnish borders.
Chief Investigator Tony Rauma of the Ostrobothnia Police said the inquiry continues with daily tips coming from the public. “We are still hoping for information from the public that can help us find the family,” Rauma said.
He added that all tips are reviewed carefully and investigated for credibility. According to police, the investigation remains methodical despite the lack of major developments.
Authorities say the criminal classification may change depending on where the family is located. If found outside Finland, the case could be reclassified as child abduction.
The arrest warrant, issued through the European Arrest Warrant system, means the Karfs can be detained and extradited from any EU member state.
The Karf family lived in a rural part of Pedersöre before the children were removed from their custody. Police have not disclosed the exact reason for the initial intervention, but Finnish media reports suggest child protection services were already involved before the disappearance.
Public interest in the case has grown since the family went missing. Finnish media have published photographs of the Karf parents to assist in identification.
The Finnish police have urged anyone with information about the family’s whereabouts to come forward.
The European Arrest Warrant remains valid across all EU countries, allowing swift legal transfer between jurisdictions if the suspects are located.
Investigators continue to treat the case as active and ongoing.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
