Finnish police arrest 2 asylum-seekers for alleged murder

HELSINKI – Finnish police say they have arrested two Iraqi asylum-seekers on suspicion of murder and robbery.

The district court in Kajaani ordered the two men held in custody, pending the outcome of an investigation into the suspected murder of a local man, whose body was found Sunday. The Wednesday hearing was held behind closed doors.

Police Chief Inspector Jarkko Maksniemi said the body of a man in his 50s was found by the side of the road in the village of Otanmaki, near Kajaani in central Finland. He told the AP that the two men, who were not named, were suspected of robbing and killing the victim as well as of another violent robbery during the early hours of Sunday. He declined further comment.

No further details were immediately available.