Finishing Touch: Knife Attack On Finland’s PM Thwarted

The prime minister of Finland was targeted for assassination Monday by a knife-wielding attacker, but survived the incident unhurt.

According to reports, Jyrki Katainen was campaigning in the city of Turku, in southwestern Finland, when a man carrying a knife was stopped by the PM’s security team. Katainen reportedly continued campaigning, ahead of this weekend’s municipal elections.

The would-be assailant, who was taken away by police, was only described as wearing long hair and behaving in “a confused manner.” His motives are unknown.

Katainen’s conservative National Coalition Party is expected to amass most votes in Sunday’s election, according to polls, with the Social Democrats finishing a close second.

He became prime minister of Finland in April 2011 by forging a six-party coalition.