Swiss police detain suspect in Aarau rave shooting that left 22 dead
A 43-year-old man was arrested in connection with a shooting at a techno rave in Aarau, Switzerland, that killed a 22-year-old Italian woman and injured several others.
Swiss authorities arrested a 43-year-old man on Monday after a shooting at a techno rave held at the Schachen race track in Aarau killed 22-year-old Italian student Maria Spinelli and wounded five other attendees. Police said the suspect was taken into custody shortly before 01:00 local time, ending a manhunt that began after gunfire was reported at about 02:30 on Sunday.
The incident occurred at a venue that had expected around 3,500 participants. An eyewitness told local media that shots were heard minutes after the music stopped, initially mistaking them for fireworks, and that a woman was shot while trying to hide.
Aarau canton police stated that the investigation into the sequence of events, background and possible motive is ongoing and that the perpetrator is believed to have acted alone. Four men and a woman, aged 24 to 27, were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed confidence that Swiss authorities would fully clarify the case, and Italy’s foreign ministry announced it was sending officials to Zurich to monitor the investigation. Switzerland, which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, has seen few violent shootings in recent years, the last major incident occurring in 2001 in Zug.