A manhunt is under way in Switzerland after a 22-year-old woman was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a rave in the northern town of Aarau.
The shooting took place in the early hours of Sunday at a techno party being held at a covered horse-racing track. The woman, an Italian national, died at the scene from her injuries.
The other five people injured in the attack are also residents of Switzerland and are all in their 20s. Some of them are understood to have suffered serious injuries.
Police have cordoned off large areas of Aarau as they search for one or more suspects and have appealed to members of the public to provide any photographs or footage that could help the investigation.
Authorities have yet to establish who was responsible for the shooting or how many attackers were involved.
Police spokesperson Bernhard Graser said investigators were still trying to determine whether there was a single suspect or several people involved, and whether they fled the scene on foot or in a vehicle.
A 34-year-old witness said he heard gunshots shortly after the music stopped at around 2.30am. He initially believed the sounds were fireworks.
According to the witness, people at the event attempted to find cover, with some hiding behind the DJ booth while another woman sought shelter behind a refrigerator. She was struck by a bullet in the back and later died despite attempts to revive her.
Police increased their presence across the surrounding area as a precaution. Aarau is located around 50km west of Zurich and approximately 30km south of the German border.
Graser said there were indications that the suspect or suspects may have already left the immediate area, although a significant police presence remained in Aarau and elsewhere in the canton.
Footage from the scene showed armed police officers patrolling the streets, police vehicles moving through the town and armoured vehicles positioned close to the crime scene.
Organisers of the annual rave said they were shocked by the incident, stressing that such events should be places of enjoyment and togetherness rather than violence.
The investigation remains under way as police continue searching for those responsible and work to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Switzerland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, although fatal shootings remain relatively uncommon. The country introduced tighter firearms regulations in 2019.
Photos: Associated Press
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