One person was killed and five others injured in a shooting at a rave in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau early Sunday, police said, as authorities launched a manhunt for the suspected gunman.
A 22-year-old woman died at the scene from her injuries, while four men and another woman, aged between 24 and 27, were taken to hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe, cantonal police said.
“The search for the unknown perpetrator is ongoing,” police said on X. “Possible motives and the exact circumstances of the crime remain unclear.”
All six victims were residents of Switzerland, police said. Their names were withheld in accordance with Swiss privacy laws.
Police were alerted to the shooting at about 2:30 a.m. in Aarau, the capital of Aargau canton, about 46 kilometres west of Zurich. The shooting occurred as the “Aarau Rave VOL. 7” was taking place at the horse racing track in the city’s Schachen district, Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported.
A large police operation followed, with officers, firefighters and ambulances deployed around the venue. Authorities cordoned off the area and urged residents to stay away while the search for the suspect continued.
Police in neighbouring Germany also joined the search, according to the German news agency dpa.
Swiss newspaper Blick reported that some people at the rave initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks before someone shouted for everyone to get down.
The shooting happened shortly after the rave ended, Blick reported. Police subsequently moved people who remained at the venue to a nearby gym.
Authorities appealed to witnesses who may have recorded photographs or video of the incident to provide the material to investigators.
At the time, Police have not identified a suspect or disclosed a possible motive.
