Armed attack at rave party in Aarau: 22-year-old woman killed, five wounded
A 22-year-old woman died and five people were wounded following gunfire at a rave party in Aarau, Switzerland. The attackers remain at large.
Young woman killed and five wounded following gunfire at a rave in Aarau
A 22-year-old woman was killed and five other people were wounded, some seriously, following an armed attack that occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at the edge of a rave party in Aarau, Switzerland, reports Google News RO — Crime (ro) on the basis of information transmitted by Reuters and AFP.
The police of Aargau canton announced on the platform X that the victim died at the scene. Four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, were transported to hospital — some with minor injuries, others with serious wounds.
Perpetrators unknown and complete uncertainty regarding their number
Police spokesman Bernhard Graser stated to reporters present at the scene that the investigation is at an early stage. "At this moment, we do not have reliable information regarding the perpetrators. We do not know whether it was a single person or several, nor whether they fled by vehicle or on foot," said Graser.
He added that certain clues suggest that the perpetrators are no longer in the area, though he noted that significant police forces have been deployed both in Aarau and throughout the canton. Police have appealed to the public for any footage captured during the incident.
The motives and exact circumstances of the attack remain unclear, according to the same official source.
Witness: "She was young. It is simply incredibly tragic"
A 34-year-old witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters that he heard the gunshots shortly after the music stopped, around 02:30 Sunday morning, initially confusing them with fireworks.
According to the same witness, several people took shelter behind a DJ booth at the moment of the attack. A woman hid behind a refrigerator, but was struck in the back by a bullet and bled to death, despite resuscitation efforts carried out at the scene.
"It is simply incredibly tragic. She was young," the witness told Reuters. "The fact that such a thing could happen in Aarau, at a local event, is simply unimaginable. I still cannot really process the situation," he added.
Event with 3,500 expected participants, at a covered racecourse
The rave party was organised at a covered racecourse in Aarau. The organisers' website promoted the event as a techno party at which approximately 3,500 people were expected.
Reuters images show armed officers patrolling the area, columns of police vehicles moving through the town's streets, and armoured vehicles parked near the crime scene.
Context: firearms common, incidents rare
Switzerland is among European countries with the highest rates of firearms ownership, although armed incidents are considered rare in the country. In 2019, Swiss authorities approved stricter standards regarding arms control.
The investigation is ongoing, and Aargau canton police have not confirmed any arrests at the time of publication of this information.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)