A 22-year-old woman was killed and five people were injured in a shooting at a techno rave in the Swiss town of Aarau, prompting a major police operation and a search for the suspected gunman.
Police said the woman died at the scene early Sunday. The five injured victims, four men and one woman aged between 24 and 27, were taken to hospital. Their injuries range from minor to severe, according to authorities.
The shooting took place at a horse racing track where a large techno event was being held. Organisers said they had expected up to 3,500 people to attend the rave.
Aargau Cantonal Police said the identity of the suspected attacker and the motive remained unknown. Investigators were also working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Local media reported that police received an alert at about 2:30am local time. One DJ who was scheduled to perform until the event’s planned end at 2am said the shooting happened shortly after his set.
Another performer, DJ Tekibo, said he had lost a friend in the incident and was struggling to understand what had happened.
Olivier Grein, whose company Agency Events AG organised the event, said the organisers were deeply shaken and would cooperate fully with investigators.
Police cordoned off the area around the racing track, as well as a nearby swimming pool and sports field. Authorities urged members of the public to stay away while officers searched for the suspect.
A large police presence was deployed across Aarau and surrounding areas as a precaution. An AFP reporter saw armed officers positioned along a highway as far as 30 kilometres from the scene.
Images from the town showed armoured police vehicles blocking roads, while armed officers and riot police patrolled streets. Firefighters and a regional disaster response unit were also sent to the area.
A Swiss Army helicopter was reported to have been used to survey the area during the early hours.
Police appealed to people who witnessed the shooting to provide photographs or videos that could assist the investigation.
Aarau, which has a population of about 23,000, is around 46 kilometres west of Zurich and less than 40 kilometres from the German border. German police were reported to be supporting their Swiss counterparts as the search continued.
