- A manhunt is underway after a deadly shooting at a rave in northern Switzerland overnight into Sunday, police said.
- One person was killed and five others were wounded after shots were fired at the event in the town of Aarau, according to Aargau Cantonal Police.
- A 22-year-old woman died at the scene, while four men and one woman, aged 24 to 27, are being treated in hospital for injuries ranging from minor to severe.
- The shooting happened at the Schachen horse racing track in the town, where a rave was being held.
- Swiss DJ Tekibo described the incident as 'heartbreaking' and mentioned he lost a friend.
- Police have cordoned off a large area around the venue and asked the public to stay away.
- All victims are residents in Switzerland, according to police.
- The motive and exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear, police stated.
- Switzerland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, although shootings are rare.
- In 2019, Swiss voters approved tighter gun control rules in a national referendum.
- Switzerland’s deadliest mass shooting occurred in 2001, when a gunman killed 14 politicians in what became known as the Zug massacre.
A manhunt is underway after a shooting at a rave in Aarau, Switzerland, left a 22-year-old woman dead and five others injured. The incident occurred at the Schachen horse racing track around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, where approximately 3,500 attendees were present.111
According to police, the victims, all Swiss residents aged 20 to 27, were treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe. The shooter’s motive remains unclear, and police have cordoned off large areas of the town as they search for the suspect. Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots shortly after the music stopped, with one witness mistaking the sounds for fireworks. “It’s just incredibly tragic. She was young,” said a witness who described the scene as unimaginable.8
Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the event, expressed his heartbreak on Instagram, stating, “Techno and raves should be places of freedom and safety, never places where something like this happens.” Switzerland, known for its high rate of gun ownership, has seen rare instances of violent shootings, with the last major incident being the 2001 Zug massacre that claimed 14 lives. In 2019, voters approved tighter gun control measures, yet this incident raises questions about safety at public events.6712
Police have increased their presence in the area, approximately 50 km west of Zurich, as they continue their investigation into this tragic event.
“The shooting occurred at the Schachen horse racing track, where a techno party with 3,500 expected attendees was held. An eyewitness told Reuters he initially mistook gunshots for fireworks, and one woman hid behind a refrigerator but was hit in the back and bled to death.”
