Police disperse hundreds of youths from Citymarket Laune courtyard in Lahti

On Friday evening, police acted on several emergency alerts concerning a sizable gathering of teenagers causing disruptions at the Citymarket Laune courtyard in Lahti. The police estimate the number of youths present at its peak at about 300, including children as young as 12, and noted that alcohol was present among some participants. While the majority obeyed repeated commands to vacate the area, a minority defied officers and verbally abused them, leading to a fine for one individual.

After the initial clearance, a portion of the group moved to an adjacent parking hall, where they were also ordered to leave. Police emphasized that they understand youths using public spaces but deemed this incident unusually severe, prompting the intervention. The department urged parents to discuss appropriate public behavior with their children.