Swiss police initiated a manhunt after a shooting at the Aarauer Rave, a large techno party, resulted in one fatality and five injuries. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday in Aarau, located approximately 46 kilometers (29 miles) west of Zurich.
Authorities stated that the motive and exact circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unknown. "Several shots" were reportedly fired into a large crowd. Approximately 3,500 people attended the annual event, which had been ongoing since 3 p.m. Saturday.
Swiss police described their response as "large-scale." On the social media platform X, they announced, "The search for the perpetrators, whose identities are currently unknown, is under way."
Initial confusion among partygoers led some to believe the gunshots were fireworks. However, attendees soon fled the racecourse where the rave was held to a nearby gymnasium, according to the Swiss newspaper Blick. One attendee described hearing a "burst of gunfire."
An Aarau resident posted a video on social media depicting deserted streets with sounds resembling gunshots in the background. An army helicopter was reportedly deployed to assist in the search, along with police, rescue workers, and medical teams. Armed officers were observed on highways up to 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the rave site.