Police say 36-year-old boyfriend of 26-year-old victim has been arrested after manhunt in challenging arctic conditions

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A murder investigation has been opened in Lapland after a British seasonal worker was stabbed to death.

The woman, who has not yet been named, worked at Santa Safari, a company offering tours to meet Santa Claus, a spokeswoman confirmed to the Guardian.

The 26-year-old woman was stabbed in Kuttanen, Lapland, on Saturday morning, Finnish police said. She is believed to be from Scotland.

The woman’s 36-year-old boyfriend, a Czech citizen, was arrested after police launched a manhunt in challenging arctic conditions with temperatures as low as -30C, using snowmobiles and Border Guard helicopters, according to a police statement.

The nearby border with Sweden was sealed and roads in the area were closed, according to a statement by tour operator Transun.

The man had fled into the arctic wilderness on a dogsled, where he was found suffering from exposure after several hours evading the authorities. He was taken to hospital for treatment and is now in custody.



A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed the death and said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in Finland on 3 December.”

The Guardian understands that police in Scotland are in the process of informing the victim’s relatives of the death.

A spokesman for the Czech government said: “The MFA [ministry of foreign affairs] of the Czech Republic can confirm that a Czech citizen was arrested as a murder suspect in Lapland on Sunday 4 December.

“We are in contact with the police in Finland. We cannot provide any further details as the investigation of this case has just started.”

The suspect has not contacted the foreign ministry or Czech embassy to request help, he said.

A spokeswoman for Santa Safari told the Guardian: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the Santa Safari team was discovered dead on 3 December.



“We are all in shock from this tragic news and our thoughts go out to her family. Our team is working closely with the Finnish police and relevant authorities to support the investigation that is now under way. It goes without saying that we will do everything we can to support the family and our staff at this incredibly difficult time.”

Santa Safari’s tours start at £489 for a one-day round trip from the UK to its site in Enontekiö, in the arctic circle in north-west Finland. The company said it would compensate customers whose trips were disrupted by the manhunt.

The spokeswoman said: “We thank visitors for their understanding at this difficult time and we will ensure that anyone whose trips have been affected will be compensated.”