Image: Eino Kossila / Yle

Police have freed two Moroccan men suspected of involvement in a knife attack in Turku that killed two people and left eight wounded. The NBI, which is conducting the investigation, no longer suspects them of murder and attempted murder with terrorist intent but will continue to interview them as witnesses.

The men denied involvement in the plot from the start.

The main suspect, who had given authorities the name Abderrahman Mechkah but who is now thought to be Abderrahman Bouanane, remains in custody along with one other Moroccan man. Police say that in interviews Bouanane admitted carrying out the stabbings but denied terrorist motives.

Bouanane had claimed to be 18-years-old, making him a child when he submitted his asylum claim, but police now believe his real age to be 22.