Finnish PM says suspected break-ins at MPs’ homes could be work of foreign power

The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, has said a foreign power could be responsible for a series of suspected break-ins at the homes of several members of parliament.

Police said on Thursday they were investigating multiple reports of MPs’ homes being broken into in the Helsinki area in the last year in which nothing was stolen but subtle signs of breaking and entering were left.

When asked by a reporter if a foreign power could be behind the alleged intrusions, Orpo said: “It is very possible. Quite possible in this day and age.

“If someone tries to destabilise Finland, our sense of security, or our support for example for Ukraine, it has the opposite effect. It strengthens our unity.”

He said the incidents would be investigated by police and within government and would be “taken very seriously”.

With the Finnish parliamentary elections just six months away, Orpo said the risk of election interference must be taken seriously. “We see in several European countries that Russia has sought to influence elections,” he said.

Finland shares a long border with Russia that has been closed for years amid a rapid deterioration of relations since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Finland joining Nato.

The Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, said when asked about the suspected incidents: “An attack on a member of parliament is an attack on democracy.

“It should not be allowed or accepted in any form … I stand in support of every member of parliament.”

At a press conference in parliament, the speaker, Jussi Halla-aho, said he did not have an exact number of suspected cases but that it was “significant”. He said it was the kind of behaviour associated with state actors.

“It is known that state actors sometimes engage in activities that resemble suspected cases, but we have no information to comment on at this time and there is no point in speculating,” Halla-aho said.

Observations had been made “drop by drop”, he said. “It is possible that the marks were left visible on purpose.”

According to the broadcaster Yle, suspected cases include doors being left open to homes and lights being left on.

Helsinki police said they had received information from parliament about suspected intrusions at the homes of MPs and had begun a preliminary inquiry. The force said in a statement: “The Helsinki police department is working closely with the national bureau of investigation in clarifying the matter. The inquiry is at an early stage, and the police have nothing further to comment on at this time.”