This chilling news sent shockwaves across the nations.
While the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) called the case “exceptional” and one of aggravated hacking and espionage, President Sauli Niinistö condemned the act in the strongest possible terms, calling it a serious attack on democracy and on Finnish society.
The attack was not accidental or random and even had the objective of benefitting a foreign state or simply cause harm, according to the authorities in charge of the investigation – which include NBI, the Finnish Intelligence Service (Supo), and international partners.
For her part, parliament speaker Anu Vehviläinen said that next to national measures there is a need for action at the EU level, the Finnish Broadcasting Company reported.