Finnish MPs have reported suspected intrusions into their homes, prompting a police investigation and a security review within Parliament. The number of cases is considered significant, although there is currently no indication that anything was stolen or damaged.
The suspected incidents appear to have taken place over a longer period. In the reported cases, there have been no obvious signs of forced entry. Instead, MPs have noticed small changes or objects in their homes that raised concerns that someone may have entered the property without permission.
Parliamentary Speaker Jussi Halla-aho said on Thursday that some of these signs could have been deliberately left behind to show that an intruder had been inside. He did not provide details about the signs, saying that doing so could interfere with the investigation.
“There may be certain general signs that recur in these suspected intrusions. From the point of view of the investigation, it would not be sensible to specify what they are,” Halla-aho said.
There is so far no clear information about who may be responsible or what the motive could be. Halla-aho also said the MPs involved do not appear to share an obvious political or demographic connection. The reported cases do not, for example, appear to involve members of one particular party or people of one particular gender.
The issue became more apparent in late September after First Deputy Speaker Paula Risikko became aware of a suspected intrusion on the evening of September 23. She contacted Parliament’s security director, Aaro Toivonen, the following day. Parliament then began examining whether similar incidents had been reported by other MPs.
The concern was subsequently raised with leaders of the parliamentary groups, who were asked to find out whether members of their groups had experienced anything similar. More reports emerged after MPs were asked to pay closer attention to possible signs of intrusion.
Parliament has since sent MPs a letter advising them to watch for unusual signs in their homes and report anything suspicious to Parliament’s security unit and the police.
“We hope that the discussions with MPs and the letter sent to them will encourage them to pay attention to certain things at home and report them,” Halla-aho said.
The Helsinki Police Department has opened a preliminary investigation, with assistance from the National Bureau of Investigation. At this stage, the authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or established whether the reported incidents are connected.
The case has also prompted additional attention to the security of MPs outside Parliament. First Deputy Speaker Risikko previously said the issue was not considered an acute threat when parliamentary group leaders were briefed about the security concern in September.
Investigators are now assessing the reports to determine whether the suspected intrusions are linked and whether they constitute criminal offences. Until that work is complete, Parliament and police have provided few details about what MPs found in their homes or how the properties may have been entered.
