Finnish MP Jarno Limnell of the National Coalition Party has revealed details of a suspected break-in at his home in Espoo, saying he immediately noticed signs that someone had been inside.
Limnell told Iltalehti’s Ukkola programme on Wednesday that the incident took place a few weeks ago. Nothing appeared to have been broken or stolen, but he said several unusual details inside the house caught his attention.
Having worked on security issues for more than 30 years, Limnell said the signs “stood out immediately”.
“There were several things that were, quite frankly, strange — things that have never happened in my home before, not even accidentally because of the children,” he said.
“When there were several of them, I drew my own conclusions.”
His conclusion was that someone had entered the home without permission. Limnell declined to describe the signs in more detail because the police investigation is continuing.
After noticing them, he contacted several people he trusts and asked for their assessment.
“It felt strange, and you start thinking not only about yourself but about your loved ones and your family,” Limnell said.
He believes he has a fairly good idea of when the suspected intrusion took place. His children were at school at the time.
“I wouldn’t say I was frightened, but it is a disturbing feeling to come home and realise that somebody who does not belong there has been inside.”
Several MPs have reported similar incidents
The case is part of a wider investigation into suspected intrusions at the homes of Finnish members of parliament.
Helsinki police confirmed on 7 October that they had opened a criminal investigation into several cases after receiving information from Parliament. The incidents are currently being investigated as attempted aggravated thefts.
Police are working with Parliament, the National Bureau of Investigation and, when necessary, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. Police have not commented on possible perpetrators, motives or the wider background while the investigation remains under way.
Limnell said he had spoken with parliamentary colleagues and heard of similar experiences involving MPs from several parties.
“There are cases across a wide range of parties,” he said.
He said he decided to speak publicly under his own name partly to counter suggestions that MPs might simply have misinterpreted ordinary events.
According to Limnell, the atmosphere in Parliament remains calm.
“I haven’t observed any panic or enormous concern,” he said, adding that it is nevertheless understandable that security arrangements are now being reviewed.
“It doesn’t work”
Jarno Limnell, who specialises in security policy, said one of his first thoughts was whether the suspected intrusion could be connected to his work.
Asked whether such activity could fit within Russia’s toolkit of influence operations, he said that it could, but stressed that he did not want to speculate too far while the investigation remains unresolved.
He nevertheless described suspected intrusions involving a significant number of MPs in a democratic society as highly unusual. Limnell said the incident may have been intended to create fear, if it was deliberate intimidation.
“If the intruder is watching this programme, then at least in my case it doesn’t work,” he said.
He added that the incident would not affect what he is prepared to say about Russia or the decisions he makes as a member of parliament.
Limnell has also received disturbing messages unrelated, in his assessment, to the suspected intrusion. He described one email claiming that “Jarno Limnell has been murdered” as crossing a line and said such messages are forwarded to the authorities.
He said he continues to feel safe in his home despite the incident.
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