Tragedy struck at a rave in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau as one person lost their life and five others sustained injuries during a shooting incident in the early hours of Sunday, according to local authorities and media reports. The police are currently in pursuit of a suspect.
In a statement released on X, the police stated, “The search for the unidentified perpetrator is still ongoing. The motives behind the crime and the exact circumstances are yet to be determined.”
The cantonal police disclosed that a 22-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Subsequently, four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, were rushed to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Authorities confirmed that all the victims are Swiss residents, and their identities have been withheld in compliance with Swiss privacy regulations.
Police officers were seen patrolling near the Schachen horse racing track following the tragic shooting at the rave. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via The Associated Press)
According to police spokesperson Pascal Wenzel, authorities received reports of the shooting in Aarau, the capital of the canton, located 46 kilometers west of Zurich, around 2:30 a.m.
The incident occurred during the Aarau Rave VOL. 7 event at the horse racing track in the Schachen district, as reported by SRF. The fire department established a perimeter around the venue.
Search Operation in Progress
A widespread police operation is underway, with locals advised to steer clear of the area. Police, firefighters, and ambulances are present in significant numbers at the scene.
In a collaborative effort, police in Freiburg, Germany, are also participating in the search for the suspect, as reported by the German news agency dpa.
Eyewitnesses at the rave initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks until a shout of “everyone down” alerted them, as per Swiss newspaper Blick.
Following the shooting immediately after the rave’s conclusion, law enforcement escorted all remaining attendees to a nearby gym, as detailed by Blick.
Authorities have urged anyone with videos or photos of the incident to cooperate by sharing them with the police.
Expressing shock over the incident, the Aargau Racing Club, which operates the venue, extended condolences to those impacted and commended the emergency personnel for their swift and dedicated response.
Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the event, took to Instagram to express his sorrow, stating that the turn of events was “heartbreaking.” He emphasized that techno events and raves are meant to be safe spaces and not scenes of tragedy.
Aarau, a city with a population of 22,300, is situated approximately 30 kilometers south of the German border.
