A shooting at a rave in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau left one person dead and five injured early Sunday, local police reported.
Aargau cantonal police said a 22-year-old woman died of injuries at the scene. Four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, were taken to hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe. All victims are residents of Switzerland, though police did not release their names in line with Swiss privacy rules.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni identified the woman who was killed as Maria Spinelli, a citizen from Atri in the Abruzzo region. Meloni expressed her deepest condolences for the death. Swiss President Guy Parmelin also posted on social media that he was saddened by the incident and shared his condolences to the family and relatives of the young victim.
The shooting occurred at a rave organized at the Pferderennbahn Schachen horse racing track in Aarau during the night between Saturday and Sunday. Attendees initially mistook some of the gunshots for fireworks, according to reports. The event had been described as featuring a great atmosphere and high energy before the shooting erupted.
Among the five injured, two were identified as Italian citizens. According to reports, the two Italian victims were able to return home, while the other three injured remained hospitalized.
Police launched a manhunt following the incident. A 43-year-old Swiss man was arrested on Monday morning by cantonal police as part of the investigation. According to police, he is believed to be the sole perpetrator of the shooting.
Armed police officers patrolled the area near the horse racing track and downtown Aarau following the incident as the investigation continued.