Finnish police have opened a preliminary inquiry into suspected intrusions at MPs’ homes, after Parliament reported a series of cases involving lawmakers from different political parties. The Helsinki Police Department is working with the National Bureau of Investigation (Keskusrikospoliisi) to establish what happened.
The inquiry is still at an early stage. Police have not yet opened a formal criminal investigation, meaning authorities are first assessing whether there are grounds to suspect that crimes have been committed.
Fewer than 20 suspected cases have been reported
According to information obtained by Yle, there are fewer than 20 suspected cases, believed to have occurred over roughly the past year.
There were reportedly no visible signs of forced entry, while nothing appears to have been stolen or damaged. Instead, MPs have noticed unusual details inside their homes. In some cases, doors were found open even though the residents did not remember leaving them that way. In others, lights had apparently been switched on.
Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho said Parliament could not disclose the exact number of cases, but described the total as significant. He said some of the signs may have been deliberately left behind.
“It is possible that the signs were deliberately left for the representative to notice.”
The suspected cases have mainly been reported in the Helsinki area. According to Yle, they do not appear to follow a clear pattern in terms of the MPs’ political affiliation or gender.
Parliament began assessing the scale of the issue after individual MPs reported their concerns. Parliamentary group leaders were informed, while lawmakers have received guidance on what to look for at home and have been asked to report suspicious observations to Parliament’s security unit and the police.
Police have not identified who may be responsible
There is currently no confirmed information about who may have entered the homes or what their motive may have been.
The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Suojelupoliisi, Supo) has confirmed that it is aware of the suspected cases and can support other authorities with intelligence and expertise if necessary.
Supo has urged caution over possible explanations. It noted that intelligence and security services in authoritarian countries are known to enter people’s homes within their own countries, but said it was not aware of this method being used by them in Finland or elsewhere in Europe.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the possibility of involvement by a foreign power could not be ruled out. He also said Finland must take the risk of foreign interference seriously as the next parliamentary election approaches. No evidence linking the suspected incidents to a foreign state has so far been made public.
President Alexander Stubb described the security of elected representatives as a question concerning democratic institutions.
“An attack on a member of parliament is an attack on democracy.”
The next step will depend on what the preliminary inquiry establishes. Police could open a formal criminal investigation if they determine that there are grounds to suspect a crime. Authorities have not indicated when that assessment could be completed.
