Switzerland shooting: At least one dead, five injured after shots fired at a rave party in Aargau; probe underway

At least one person was killed and five others injured after several shots were fired at a rave in Aarau, northern Switzerland, early Sunday, prompting a large police operation and a manhunt for the unidentified attacker. Authorities said the motive and circumstances of the shooting remain unclear.

A 22-year-old woman died at the scene, while four men and another woman, aged between 24 and 27, were taken to hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe, according to Aargau Cantonal Police. All six victims had Swiss residency. Swiss media reported that the woman who died was an Italian national.

The shooting took place at the Schachen horse racing track, where a rave was being held overnight. Police have cordoned off the area and urged members of the public to stay away as investigators work to establish what led to the attack.

Switzerland rave shooting: Police launch manhunt for attacker

Aargau Cantonal Police said the gunman remained at large as of Sunday.

"The manhunt for the unknown perpetrator is under way," police said in a statement, adding that "Possible motives as well as the exact circumstances of the crime are still unclear."

Police spokeswoman Vanessa Rumpold said several shots were fired while a large number of people were gathered at the venue.

"Several shots were fired within a large group of people," Rumpold told Swiss media.

Reports said an army helicopter was deployed in Aarau alongside a large contingent of police officers, rescue workers and medical teams. The response was focused on securing the area and locating the suspected shooter.

Witnesses told Swiss outlet Blick that the shooting occurred at about 2:30 a.m., when the rave was still in progress. Some attendees initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks before realising that people had been injured.

Witness describes chaos as music stops and gunshots ring out

The sudden violence brought the rave to an abrupt end, with people seeking shelter nearby.

One eyewitness told Blick that the music stopped before the sound of gunfire was heard.

“At 2:30 a.m. the music suddenly stopped, and after a minute or two I suddenly heard the gunshots…I thought it was fireworks and didn’t think anything of it,” he was quoted as saying.

The witness said he later saw a woman who had been shot while crossing an open area. Attempts were made to save her, but she died from her injuries.

Another video shared on social media appeared to show deserted streets near the venue, with several sounds resembling gunshots in the background.

The event organisers had advertised the rave on social media, and Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the event, described the incident as deeply distressing.

“Techno and raves should be places of freedom and safety, never places where something like this happens,” he wrote on Instagram.

The DJ also said he had “lost an important friend”, without providing further details.

Aarau shooting: Investigation continues at sealed-off venue

Investigators have established a large security perimeter around the Schachen horse racing track as they examine the scene and try to determine the sequence of events.

Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or established a motive. Police have also asked people to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

The incident occurred in Aargau, a northern Swiss canton that includes Aarau, the cantonal capital. The region is known for its historic towns, valleys and castles.

How common are shootings in Switzerland?

The shooting has drawn attention to Switzerland's comparatively high level of civilian gun ownership, although serious gun violence remains relatively uncommon in the country.

Switzerland has introduced tighter firearms regulations in recent years. In 2019, voters approved changes to gun-control rules in a national referendum.

The country's deadliest mass shooting occurred in 2001, when a gunman entered a government building in Zug and killed 14 people before taking his own life.