U.S. family seeks political asylum

An American family with three small children has applied for political asylum in Finland, immigration officials said. The five came from Germany on Tuesday, said Minna Serradj of the Directorate of Immigration.

“It’s very unusual for a U.S. citizen to apply for asylum,” Serradj said, declining to give details, in line with a policy to protect asylum-seekers.

Serradj declined to comment on local media speculation that the parents possibly were seeking to escape serving in the U.S. armed forces in Iraq. She said a decision would be made in three to six months.