Unknown people have tried to access important facilities or systems of Imatra, located on the eastern border, without permission.
Suspected "knocking" has been observed both in information systems and in other critical infrastructure, such as heat distribution, says
Samuel Venäläinen, risk management and security manager of the city of Imatra .
Vesihuolto's buildings are monitored using, among other things, camera surveillance. Picture of the Tuulikallio water tower from Imatra. Photo: Kare Lehtonen / Yle
According to him, knocking means trying from the outside to see if we can get into different systems, areas or spaces, even by walking in after other employees.
- A good example is that inside the closed premises there is a person who does not belong there, who does not have any kind of identification, and we cannot find a common language. For example, he says that he is looking for "Pena", but Pena cannot be found in the entire building.
According to Venäläinen, suspected knocking attempts have increased recently. He emphasizes that there is no evidence that it was a criminal activity. No actual burglary attempts have been detected.
Safety-related instructions have been sharpened for personnel. For example, everyone must keep an eye on whether there are people moving in the area who do not belong there and notify them if necessary.
On Monday, Yle reported about
break-ins to water supply buildings in various parts of Finland . No suspicious activity has been observed around the water towers of other cities in Southeast Finland.
According to Ari Mikkelä , CEO of Kouvola water, the events of the last few days have affected the water company's operations. For example, investment has been made in monitoring and locking, and inspection rounds have been increased. There have been no burglary attempts.
Kouvola water encourages you to tell the police or the water company if you notice unusual traffic near the facilities. Photo: Pyry Sarkiola / Yle
Kyme vesi, which operates in the Kotka region, has also mapped recent alarms and disturbances. However, according to Managing Director
Jani Väkeva, nothing exceptional has emerged from them.
- We are now evaluating whether there is a need to increase safety-related measures. We also don't want to overreact, he says.
In recent years, young people have tried to break into water towers a few times. However, Kyme vesi has not encountered any cases indicating hybrid influence.
In South Karelia, Imatra's water and Lappeenranta's Energy Networks have no information that water towers have been tampered with. Preparations have been intensified even before summer break-ins to water supply buildings.