The paint-splattered entrance of the Ministry of Defence in Helsinki on 7 June 2025. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Str / Lehtikuva
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A pro-Palestinian activist group has claimed responsibility for an act of vandalism at Finland’s Ministry of Defence, where red paint was thrown on the building’s main entrance early Saturday morning.
The police are investigating the incident as aggravated vandalism. According to Helsinki police, a security guard reported two people, a man and a woman, fleeing the scene at 1:42am. No arrests had been made by Saturday evening.
The group Palestine Action stated it was behind the protest, saying it opposes Finland’s military dealings with Israeli defence companies and the country’s stance on the war in Gaza. The group has conducted similar actions in the United Kingdom, targeting premises linked to Israeli arms manufacturers.
In a message published on social media, the group claimed it used water-soluble red paint. Photographs taken at the site show splashes of bright red substance across the historic building’s stone facade, with thicker deposits pooled on the ground. The material appeared to have been mixed with powder, making some areas darker than others.
The Defence Ministry is located in Kaartinkaupunki, central Helsinki, in a protected building originally completed in 1822. Designed by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel, the building is part of Finland’s national architectural heritage. Any alteration or damage requires specialised handling.
Due to the building’s age and status, restoration cannot begin immediately. “You can’t just go in with pressure washers,” said Sanna Jääskeläinen, communications director at Senate Properties, the agency responsible for state buildings.
Cleaning work is scheduled to start after the weekend, under the supervision of conservators from the Finnish Heritage Agency. “This will be approached with the same care as the cleanups at the Parliament Building last September and the Ateneum Art Museum in February,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mikko Koskimaa, military assistant to the Ministry’s permanent secretary.
Jääskeläinen added that allowing the substance to dry will make removal more controlled. “It’s important not to rush, especially with material on a protected site like this.”
Palestine Action accused Finland of complicity in “genocide” against Palestinians due to reported cooperation with Israeli arms firms. Finland has confirmed some defence procurement links with Israeli companies, but the government has not commented on the protest or its claims.
Police say they are still working to identify the two individuals seen leaving the scene. The classification of the case as aggravated vandalism reflects both the building’s significance and the visible extent of the damage.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
