Suspect on the Run

Shooting in Switzerland: One Dead, Five Injured

The Disaster Response Unit (KKE), along with the army and a Super Puma helicopter, have been on the scene since the early morning hours.(Bild: EPA/MICHAEL BUHOLZER)

“Several shots” were fired early Sunday morning at a rave on the Schachen grounds in Aarau, Switzerland. According to police, five people were injured, some seriously—a young woman (22) was killed in the hail of gunfire. A large number of emergency responders are on the scene.

According to information from the “Blick,” “up to 30 shots” were fired around 2:30 a.m. on the outskirts of the “Aarau Rave” at the Schachen horse racing track. Witnesses reported a burst of gunfire. Panic broke out among the approximately 3,500 rave attendees. Then someone shouted, “Everyone down!” and many attendees sought shelter under the DJ booths. “It was terrible,” said one witness.

Police Presence Increased
The victim was a 22-year-old woman who was killed on the spot “by one or more gunshots.” She succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, were “slightly to seriously injured.” All are believed to be residents of Switzerland.

Search for unknown suspect
Whether this was the work of a single perpetrator or multiple individuals is the subject of the investigation. According to unconfirmed reports, some witnesses have mentioned up to four perpetrators. Authorities assume that the unknown perpetrators are no longer in the Aarau area. German law enforcement has been called in to assist. Over 100 police officers are on the scene.

The area has been cordoned off over a wide radius, and the police presence has been significantly increased beyond the Aarau region. Identity checks are being conducted at all access points. Aarau, in the canton of Aargau, is located about 40 kilometers west of Zurich.

“Sparks on the Ceiling”
A woman reported that her friend had been at the rave with a group. Around 4 a.m., her friend told her that there had been a shooting. At first, the attendees mistook the gunfire “for fireworks” because they saw sparks on the ceiling.

According to the “Berliner Kurier,” a support center was set up in a nearby gym for shocked festivalgoers. The adjacent Aarau swimming pool and sports fields will remain closed until further notice.

Latest images from Aarau:

The scene of the incident was the rave event held on the grounds of the Aargau Racing Club. The club expressed its sympathy to all those affected. “The Aarau rave party was overshadowed by a tragic incident. The relevant emergency services were immediately alerted and were on the scene with the necessary resources to manage the situation and take the required measures,” the association wrote in a statement.

DJ: “Lost Important People”
The event’s DJ also expressed his deep distress. What happened at the rave was absolutely heartbreaking, DJ Tekibo wrote in an Instagram Story. “Techno and raves are supposed to be a place of freedom and safety.” He said he was still trying to come to terms with the whole thing and had “lost someone important.” He announced that he would be taking a break for a while.

Police Ask for Help
The Aargau Cantonal Police are urgently asking witnesses and partygoers to submit photos and video footage from that night directly via their Instagram channel. No details about the weapon or the motive have been released yet.

A rave is a dance event—usually lasting several days or an entire day—where DJs play electronic music such as techno, house, or trance. Originally emerging in the late 1980s as part of the underground culture, raves now take place in clubs and warehouses as well as at large open-air festivals.