Swiss police arrested a 43-year-old man in connection with a shooting at a music event in Aarau that left one woman dead and five other people injured. The incident occurred early Sunday morning during the "Aarau Rave VOL. 7," held at a horse racing track in the Schachen district. Officials from the canton of Aargau stated that they believe a single perpetrator was involved, though a motive has not yet been determined.
The shooting took place around 2:30 a.m. as the event was concluding. Witnesses reported to the Swiss newspaper Blick that attendees initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks before being told to take cover. Following the incident, emergency responders cordoned off the racing track, and police moved the remaining attendees to a nearby gymnasium. A search operation involved local officers, firefighters, and police from Freiburg, Germany.
A 22-year-old woman died from her injuries at the scene, according to cantonal police. Five other victims, four men and one woman between the ages of 24 and 27, were transported to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to severe. All six victims were identified by police as residents of Switzerland; their names were withheld in accordance with national privacy regulations.
The Aargau Racing Club expressed shock at the shooting, and Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the event, stated that the incident contradicts the expected safety of the techno scene. While Switzerland has a high rate of gun ownership, public shootings are rare in the country.
The emergency response drew in resources from neighboring Germany and local fire departments to secure the racing facility. Police lockdowns occurred in the Schachen district while a search for the perpetrator was conducted until the arrest was announced on Monday.
Investigations by cantonal police are ongoing to determine the motive and background of the 43-year-old suspect. Authorities have requested that witnesses provide any available photo or video evidence to assist the investigation.