Trial of 28-year-old man begins in Finland for sexual abuse of 361 children

A 28-year-old man appeared before the Pirkanmaa District Court in Tampere, Finland, on September 7, 2026, to face trial for the systematic sexual abuse of 361 children. The victims, aged between nine and 15, were primarily boys residing across Finland. The offenses were allegedly committed between 2019 and 2022 via social media platforms, including Snapchat.

The prosecutor has charged the defendant with multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse of minors and the distribution of sexual images depicting minors. While the opening day of the trial was open to the public, the remainder of the proceedings will be held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the case. The trial is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year. The investigation into these incidents was initially made public by Finnish authorities in December 2025.