Finnish intelligence warned of possible violence in Turku before stabbing attack

HELSINKI, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO) had received a warning of possible violent assault before the stabbings occurred in the southwest port city of Turku on Friday, Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported Monday.

A private person had informed local police of the attacker and the police had sent the information to SUPO, Yle said.

SUPO confirmed to Yle that it had received the information but said it had no concrete reference to violence. SUPO said it receives around a thousand pieces of such information per year and it has to prioritize.

The stabbings mounted by an 18-year-old Moroccan on Friday afternoon at two squares in Turku left two Finnish women dead and eight others wounded.