Alarm in a NATO country: Emergency warning issued — 'Stay indoors'; Flights suspended PHOTO/VIDEO

Residents were told to stay indoors while authorities assess the situation, as security services launched surveillance and airspace control operations, according to the Finnish news outlet Yle.

Finland’s Defence Forces introduced a temporary restricted flight zone to ensure safety and prevent unauthorized entry into the affected airspace.

Air and sea traffic in the wider Helsinki area was also temporarily suspended and diverted, including operations at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

Police said drones were repeatedly sighted in southern Finland during the morning, while surveillance operations also involved military F/A-18 Hornet aircraft patrolling over Uusimaa and near Helsinki.

 

Finnish emergency services later announced that the security alert had been lifted and that the situation was brought under control.

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Authorities assessed that the measures taken were preventive in nature.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told citizens that it is “safe to go to school and work,” while announcing further public updates on the incident.

Despite disruptions to morning traffic, public transport in Helsinki mostly continued operating, although some bus lines were cancelled or temporarily suspended.