Police arrest 28 in Finnish independence day riot

Police arrested 28 protestors at a riot in Finland's southern city of Tampere Friday night, distrupting celebrations of Finnish Independence Day. About 200 people gathered at the Tampere Hall, where a presidential ball was being held, to protest the celebration, Finnish broadcasting company Yle reported. Some protesters rioted, breaking the windows of local real estate and pelting police cars with bottles, before tear gas and truncheons were used to disperse the crowds. A number of demonstrators and police were injured. The situation was bought under control at midnight. At a press conference on Saturday, the chief inspector of Pirkanmaa police department, Harry Nojonen, said that the demonstration was organized by Kiakkovieras, a pro-anarchy group which has not been registered in the police administration. The police claimed the aim of the demonstration was to rush into the Tampere Hall and create a disturbance during the ball, which had nothing to do with "freedom of speech". Police chief Markku Luoma said, "It actually was not a demonstration, but a band of robbers who had gathered here to make troubles." Finland cerebrated its 96th Independence Day on Friday. This year's Presidential Reception Party was held outside of the capital Helsinki for the first time as the official Presidential residence is under renovation.