Man held for abusing 12 underage girls sexually

Police arrested a man on charge of abusing number of underage girls sexually in Helsinki, said a police press release on Monday.

A man of 1950s is suspected of the multiple child sexual offences said to have been committed over several years since 2006 in his apartment at Laajasalo in Helsinki.

According to the current police, the sex offences have been committed against at least twelve underage girls.

The man is currently in police custody and the law enforcing agency published his picture for the interest of the crime investigation.

With the help of the picture, people who have been in contact with the man can assess whether they have any information that may facilitate criminal investigations, said the police.

Preliminary investigation established that young people spent time in the man's apartment because the man was offering alcohol and narcotic drugs to minors. He has been referred as to "Eno" by young people.

News agency Xinhua adds: Local media have not published his name, but national radio Yle said the name indicated he was of foreign background.

A Finnish language Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat said he required a French language interpreter in court appearances. The newspaper reported the man had earlier worked in France in the programming branch.

Senior police investigator Saara Asmundela told Yle the police received tens of calls on Monday. The news also increased the demand for youth counseling.