The Moroccan man who killed two people and injured eight in a frenzied stabbing attack in Turku, Finland, was seen smiling in the dock as his trial began today.

Abderrahman Bouanane, 23, has confessed to carrying out the attack in August last year shortly after his arrest, and has told police he sees it as an act of terror.

If Bouanane is convicted, he will be the first person to be found guilty of acts of terror in Finnish history.

In the dock: Abderrahman Bouanane, 23, smiles as he sits in a bench of the auditorium of the Turku prison, which was converted into a courtroom for his trial, in Turku, Finland

Prosecutor Hannu Koistinen claims that Bouanane's action went beyond a random act of terrorism and that he is an ISIS supporter.

'Bouanane has seen his action as an expression of support for the Islamic State's operation and their ideology,' Koistinen said today according to Vasabladet.

Bouanane had claimed to be a 17-year-old boy called Abderrahman Mechkah when he arrived in Finland in 2016, and applied for asylum as an unaccompanied minor.

His true identity, revealed in court documents, could be established following an international police investigation after his arrest, local media reports.

Finnish police have previously said Bouanane targeted women when he launched the attack at a market square in the southwestern port city on August 18.

Victim: Hassan Zubier, a British citizen now living in Sweden, was in attendance as the trial began in Turku, Finland, today

Admittance: Bouanane has admitted to carrying out the stabbing attack, killing two women and injuring eight people in Turku last August

Scene: Emergency services are seen at the site of the stabbings in August last year

A historic killer: If found guilty, Bouanane will become the first person convicted of acts of terrorism in modern Finnish history

Two women were killed and six women and two men were injured, including a British paramedic now living in Sweden.

Victim Hassan Zubier, from Kent, was stabbed in the neck, chest and back by Bouanane as he tried to help one of the female stabbing victims who died in his arms.

Mr Zubier appeared to still be in need of a wheelchair as he attended proceedings today.

Bouanane is being charged with murder and attempted murder 'with terrorist intent', but his lawyer contests that the purpose was terrorism despite Bouanane's confession.

The trail continues until the 15th of May, and is initially being held at Turku prison 'for security reasons'.