A deadly shooting occurred at a rave in the Aargau canton of northern Switzerland, resulting in one fatality and injuring five individuals early Sunday, as reported by local authorities and media outlets. The police are actively seeking a suspect in connection with the incident while stating that the motives behind the crime and the specific circumstances are still unclear.
The Cantonal police confirmed that a 22-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene, with four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, being hospitalized with injuries of varying degrees. All the victims are residents of Switzerland, but their identities have not been disclosed in adherence to Swiss privacy regulations.
The police were notified about the shooting at around 2:30 a.m. in Aarau, the capital of the canton, located 46 kilometers west of Zurich. The incident took place during the Aarau Rave VOL. 7 at the Schachen district’s horse racing track, with a significant police presence and emergency services responding to the scene.
Authorities launched a manhunt for the suspect, urging locals to avoid the area while engaging in extensive search operations. Police from Freiburg, Germany, also participated in the search efforts. Witnesses at the rave initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks until a call to take cover was made, according to Swiss newspaper reports.
Following the conclusion of the event, the shooting occurred, prompting the police to relocate the remaining attendees to a nearby gym. Police requested any witnesses with videos or photos of the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation.
The Aargau Racing Club, managing the venue, expressed shock at the tragedy, offering condolences to the affected individuals and their families. Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the rave, expressed sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that such violence contradicts the ethos of techno events meant to provide a safe and liberated atmosphere.
Aarau, with a population of 22,300 residents, is situated approximately 30 kilometers south of the German border.