A late-night techno party in Aarau ended in gunfire: one person was killed and five others were injured. Police have cordoned off parts of the city and are continuing the search for the suspect or suspects.
A late-night rave was taking place in the Swiss city of Aarau when gunfire broke out, leaving a 22-year-old woman dead and five people injured, one of them seriously. More than 3,500 people were expected to attend the event, with hundreds still at the venue when the shooting occurred.
According to a witness, the shots were heard at around 2:30 a.m., shortly after the music stopped. At first, some people mistook the sounds for fireworks. As the situation became clear, attendees tried to hide behind the DJ booth and refrigerators to protect themselves from the gunfire.
Police have not yet established how many attackers were involved or what triggered the shooting. Authorities are considering three possibilities: a terrorist attack, a mass shooting or another criminal motive. “We consider all three possibilities equally likely,” said Michael Leupold, commander of the Aargau cantonal police.
The city and surrounding areas have been cordoned off. Police are carrying out a large-scale search for the suspect, with armed units and armored vehicles deployed in the area. Authorities have also appealed to the public to provide any photos or video footage taken at the scene.
According to Reuters, the event organizers said they were shocked by what happened: “A rave should always be a place of joy and love, not a place where people are killed, injured or left in fear.”
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