A 43-year-old Swiss man has been arrested after a deadly shooting at a rave in Aarau, Switzerland, that left a 22-year-old Italian woman dead and five other people injured.
The suspect was taken into custody shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday, after authorities launched a major manhunt following the shooting at the Schachen horse racing track early Sunday morning.
The arrest marks a major development in the investigation, but authorities have yet to establish why the shooting happened.
Police said they currently believe a single perpetrator was involved and are investigating the exact circumstances, background and possible motive.
What happened at the Swiss rave?
The shooting happened at around 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, when a techno rave was taking place at the covered Schachen horse racing track in Aarau.
The event was expected to attract thousands of people, with organizers estimating attendance at around 3,500.
According to witnesses, the music had stopped when people suddenly heard gunshots.
One witness initially believed the sounds were fireworks before realizing that people were being shot.
As panic spread through the venue, people reportedly rushed to find cover.
A 22-year-old Italian woman was fatally injured and died at the scene. Five other people were injured, with authorities saying their injuries ranged from minor to severe. Reuters reported that one of the injured was seriously hurt.
43-year-old Swiss man arrested after massive manhunt
Swiss authorities launched an extensive operation following the shooting.
Police searched the area around Aarau and increased their presence across the canton of Aargau. The operation continued for almost 24 hours before officers arrested the 43-year-old Swiss suspect shortly before 1 a.m. Monday.
Police said the man was arrested on strong suspicion of being involved in the shooting.
Authorities have not publicly established a motive.
At this stage, investigators believe the suspect acted alone, although the investigation remains ongoing.
Police are investigating three possible motives
One of the biggest unanswered questions is why the shooting happened.
Authorities have been examining several possibilities, including whether the incident was a mass shooting, an act of terrorism or another criminal motive.
Police have stressed that these remain investigative possibilities and that no motive has been confirmed.
That uncertainty is likely to remain a major focus as investigators examine the suspect’s background and reconstruct what happened inside and around the venue.
Two types of ammunition found at the scene
Investigators also found cartridges from two different calibers at the crime scene.
Police said the ammunition could indicate the use of a pistol and a second, larger firearm, potentially an assault rifle or machine gun.
The discovery is one of the details investigators are examining as they work to establish exactly how the attack unfolded.
However, authorities have not publicly provided a complete account of the weapons allegedly used or how they were obtained.
Why the shooting has shocked Switzerland
The incident has attracted particular attention because serious public shootings are relatively rare in Switzerland despite the country’s comparatively high level of civilian gun ownership.
Switzerland has tightened its firearms regulations in recent years, including changes approved in 2019.
The country was also shaken by a major shooting in Zug in 2001, when a gunman killed 14 people at a local government complex before taking his own life.
The Aarau attack has therefore raised fresh questions about gun violence and public safety in a country where such incidents are uncommon.
Italian woman among the victims
The victim who died was identified by authorities as a 22-year-old Italian woman.
Italy’s government has been closely following the case, with its foreign ministry sending officials to Zurich to monitor the investigation.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed confidence that Swiss authorities would establish what happened and identify those responsible.
The other five victims were also in their 20s, according to information released after the shooting.
What happens next?
The investigation is now moving into its next phase following the suspect’s arrest.
Authorities are expected to examine the suspect’s background, establish his connection to the event, determine how the weapons were obtained and reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
The biggest questions remain unanswered:
- Why did the shooting happen?
- Was the suspect acting alone?
- What weapons were used?
- How did the suspect gain access to them?
- Was the attack targeted or random?
- Was terrorism actually involved?
For now, Swiss authorities have not confirmed terrorism or any other specific motive.
The arrest is a significant breakthrough, but investigators still have to determine what led to the deadly attack at the Aarau rave.
