Woman killed, 5 wounded in shooting at Swiss rave as manhunt launched

A 22-year-old woman was killed, and five others were injured in a shooting at a techno rave in the Swiss town of Aarau early Sunday, prompting a large police search for the attacker or attackers. The woman, an Italian national who lived in Switzerland, died from her injuries at the scene, authorities said. The other five victims, all in their 20s and residents of Switzerland, were injured, with some reported to be in serious condition.

The shooting took place shortly after 2:30 am at an annual techno party held at the Schachen covered horse racetrack. Police said they had no confirmed information on who carried out the attack or how many suspects were involved. “We have no definite information about who is behind the attack, a police spokesperson, Bernhard Graser, told Reuters. “We don’t know if it’s one, if ‌it’s several people, if they are on ‌the run by vehicle or on foot.”

Large parts of Aarau were cordoned off as police searched for suspects and appealed for members of the public to provide images or footage from the scene. Authorities also increased their presence across the surrounding canton after indications suggested the shooter or shooters were no longer in the immediate area.

“But still have a lot of police here in the area, in the town of Aarau, in the whole state [canton] to make sure that we could get them if they’re still ⁠around,” Graser said. Reuters footage showed armed officers patrolling the area, police convoys moving through streets and armored vehicles stationed near the racetrack.

A 34-year-old witness said he initially mistook the sound of gunfire for fireworks after the music stopped. He said people took cover behind the DJ booth, while one woman hid behind a refrigerator before being struck in the back by a bullet.

“It’s just incredibly tragic. She was young,” he said. “That something like this could happen in Aarau, at a local event, ‌is simply unimaginable. I still can’t really process it. A rave should always be a place of joy and love, never a place where people are killed, injured, or left in fear,” they said.