Police have detained a third suspect in connection with a brutal attack on Finns Party aide Pekka Kataja at his home in Jämsä in July this year, according to commercial broadcaster MTV.
"Other people are also suspected of being involved in the case," National Bureau of Investigation lead investigator Jussi Luoto said.
Police had previously remanded into custody two men on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack on the Finns Party Central Finland campaign chief. One of the suspects is Jyväskylä city councillor Teemu Torssonen, while the other is Tero Ala-Tuuhonen, a man said to have links to far-right groups.
The third suspect is believed to have ties with both Torssonen and Ala-Tuuhonen. He was detained for a few days in early September but police did not apply to have him remanded into pre-trial custody.
"The third person is still at the suspect stage in the investigation," Luoto explained.
The NBI officer said that a preliminary investigation into the case is still ongoing and that the three suspects are still being questioned.
"There are still open questions," he noted.
Police said that they have also questioned other witnesses who were said to have information about the events leading up to and after the brutal attack.
Kataja, who is an aide to Finns Party MP Jouni Kotiaho, received hospital treatment for a cracked skull, cerebral haemorrhaging and three broken ribs.
Investigators are still conducting extensive technical examinations as part of the inquiry, Luoto said. The deadline for filing charges is 1 December.
