Tampere police investigate officer pointing weapon at civilian

Police in Tampere, Finland, are investigating a serious incident captured on video, showing an officer pointing a weapon at a civilian. The event occurred on August 12 and has sparked an internal review.

The civilian, who spoke to Yle, reported noticing a parked car on the roadside with no visible occupants. Upon opening the car door, a figure emerged from between the front seats and pointed an object resembling a firearm at them. The video shows the individual in the car, dressed in plain clothes, issuing a verbal command to leave.

In a statement, the police confirmed that the video shows an officer holding a weapon and instructing the civilian to leave the vehicle. The car in question was a van without external police markings. The police department emphasized its commitment to a thorough investigation, with Police Chief Mikko Masalin stating, "We take the matter seriously and the case will be investigated thoroughly."

The incident is being escalated to the prosecutor's office for review to determine if the officer involved should face criminal charges. The Sisä-Suomi police department assured the public that the investigation would be comprehensive.