A tragic shooting at a popular rave gathering in Switzerland has left one person dead and five others injured on Sunday at a popular rave event in Switzerland, prompting a police operation to take place and a manhunt for the attacker still on the hunt for the attacker.
The violence erupted at the Aarau Rave VOL. 7, a techno music event held at the Schachen horse racing track in the city of Aarau, which is 46 kilometres west of Zurich, and one person died and five were injured.
According to Aargau Cantonal Police, the shooting took place at around 2:30 a.m. local time, when thousands of people were at the overnight rave. A 22-year-old woman was fatally shot, and five other people four men and one woman between 24 and 27 were wounded in the attack and suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe. All of the victims are Swiss. The injured are still in hospital, doctors said.
The rave had drawn about 3,500 people and was one of the most popular electronic music events in the region. Witnesses described confusion and panic as gunshots rang out across the venue. One or two people initially thought it was fireworks and fled the scene in fear, the report said.
The police immediately launched a massive response operation following the shooting. A large part of the Schachen district - the horse racing track, the nearby sports field, the sports facilities, and recreational facilities - were cordoned off to the public, and the authorities searched for possible suspects. Police deployed heavily armed officers, forensic investigators, rescue teams, and air support. Police told residents to stay away from the area while police secured the crime scene and searched for evidence.
Investigators have not yet identified a suspect or even confirmed whether more than one attacker was involved. Swiss police said the shooting was still unclear. All of the possible motives are being examined; criminal violence and other possible causes have been considered. Some officials have said terrorism has not been ruled out, but no evidence has yet been publicly released to point to a specific motive.
The search for the gunman has extended beyond Aarau. German police have now joined Swiss authorities in the investigation since the city is located close to the German border. Police have also beefed up security in the region and are reviewing surveillance footage and witness testimony to identify those who carried out the attack. Those visitors who attended the event have been asked to send photos and videos to help investigators.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed sympathy to the families of the victims as well as all those affected by the tragedy. Italian authorities have confirmed the death of the woman, who was an Italian national. Messages of sympathy from across Europe are coming in as the news of the tragic incident continues to pour in.
Mass shootings in Switzerland are relatively rare because of the high civilian gun ownership in Switzerland. The attack has sent shock waves through the nation and has raised new hazards to public safety at large events. The investigators are still trying to get to the bottom of it, and the manhunt continues.
