Shots at Aarau Rave: Police Investigating Terrorist Attack, Mass Shooting and Criminal Settling of Scores
A 22-year-old died and five others were injured. The Aargau cantonal police are pursuing three hypotheses regarding the motive.
Search Ongoing – Motive and Perpetrator Identity Still Unclear
The nationwide search for the shooters from the Aarau rave continued on Monday morning. In the night leading into Sunday, the 22-year-old M. S. was killed by gunshots, and five other people were injured. According to 20 Minuten, the investigating authorities remain in the dark regarding the perpetrator's identity and motive. Three hypotheses are being considered with equal weight – none is given higher priority based on the current state of the investigation.
Hypothesis 1: Terrorist Attack
In a terrorist attack, the perpetrator expresses dissatisfaction stemming from political, social, economic or ethnic circumstances. Since the shooters are still unknown, no statements can be made about their personal convictions.
Supporting this hypothesis: The shots were fired on or in the immediate vicinity of the Aarau rave site, where up to 2,500 people were expected in a confined space from Saturday evening onwards. In a video recorded by a news scout, a large number of shots can be heard – a possible indication that more than one person was targeted. Additionally, investigators secured ammunition from two different weapons.
Against this hypothesis: The report of shots came in to the Aargau cantonal police at approximately 2:30 a.m. – roughly 30 minutes after the official end of the event at 2 a.m. Most party guests were already on their way home; according to the authorities, approximately 100 people were likely still at the venue. At the same time, another larger event in the vicinity proceeded without incident.
Hypothesis 2: Mass Shooting
In a mass shooting, there is often a personal crisis on the part of the perpetrator at the forefront, frequently related to the chosen location of the crime. Since the perpetrator is unknown, nothing can be determined about their motive here either.
The factual situation in this case is identical to that of the terrorist attack: both the arguments in favour of and those against this hypothesis correspond to those of the first scenario. The ammunition from two weapons, the large number of shots and the event venue speak in favour; the small number of people at the time of the crime and the smooth running of the parallel event speak against it.
Hypothesis 3: Criminal Settling of Scores
The police are also investigating whether the act is connected to a targeted settling of scores within a particular criminal milieu. Here too: without a known perpetrator, a connection to criminal organisations cannot be assessed.
Supporting this hypothesis is the fact that a significantly larger event, "Musig i de Altstadt", was taking place simultaneously in the immediate vicinity. This could suggest that the perpetrator deliberately selected the rave.
Speaking against it, according to the Aargau cantonal police, is the fact that investigators have found no discernible connection between the victims so far. The authorities therefore assume that all those affected were random victims.
Source: 20 Minuten