Manhunt after shooting at Swiss rave kills woman, 22, and injures five

Meanwhile, a manhunt is under way after a 22-year-old woman was killed and five others injured in a shooting at a rave in Switzerland.

Key points

• The force remarked it had received an initial report of shots fired at the Schachen race track at around 02: 30 local time (00: 30 GMT).
• Aarau, home to approximately 23, 000 individuals, is less than 40km from the border with Germany, where local media noted police were supporting Swiss forces.
• An eyewitness informed Blick that he "suddenly heard the gunshots" minutes after the music ceased at 02: 30, initially believing they were fireworks.
• Italian national Maria Spinelli died at the scene in Aarau on Sunday morning, police remarked.
• The Italian Embassy in Bern and the Consulate in Zurich were monitoring the situation, they remarked.

Italian national Maria Spinelli died at the scene in Aarau on Sunday morning, police remarked. Four men and a woman, aged between 24 and 27, were in hospital with injuries "ranging from minor to severe".

Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni remarked she was confident Swiss authorities would "shed full light on what happened and find anyone responsible".

Aarau cantonal police spokesman Michael Leupold informed a news conference on Sunday afternoon that officers were "still in the midst of the operation" and had no leads on who may have been behind the shooting.

Organisers and performers remarked the shooting happened at a techno rave being held at a horse racing track in the town. It is located some 46km (29 miles) west of Zurich.

Notably, the force remarked it had received an initial report of shots fired at the Schachen race track at around 02: 30 local time (00: 30 GMT).

Leupold reiterated that the police were conducting a large-scale, nationwide manhunt for the perpetrator, but remarked that there were at present no leads on whether it was one person or multiple individuals. They were not believed to be in Aarau anymore, he continued.

Meanwhile, the investigation is being carried out in co-operation with Freiburg police, German news agency DPA documented.

Italy's foreign ministry remarked in an official note that it was sending office-holders to Zurich "to closely follow the investigation".

It continued that two other Italians "were slightly injured and have already returned home".

In practice, the Italian Embassy in Bern and the Consulate in Zurich were monitoring the situation, they remarked.

For context, a DJ, who was due to perform until the scheduled end of the event at 02: 00, remarked the incident occurred "straight after our set", in a post on social media.

Another performer, DJ Tekibo, remarked he had lost a friend in the incident. He wrote on Instagram that he was "still trying to process what happened".

Olivier Grein, whose firm Agency Events AG organised the event, remarked the business was "shaken" and would do all it could to backing the police investigation.

For context, an eyewitness informed Blick that he "suddenly heard the gunshots" minutes after the music ceased at 02: 30, initially believing they were fireworks.

He remarked he was informed to hide by a man and a woman, the latter of whom was then shot.

Organisers had projected up to 3, 500 residents to attend. Police asked witnesses to submit photographs and video from the scene.

Meanwhile, an area around the racing track, the town's swimming pool and sports field has been cordoned off, with the public pressed to stay away.

Notably, a sizeable contingent of officers has additionally been deployed beyond Aarau "as a precaution", the cantonal police noted.

Notably, an AFP journalist documented seeing armed officers deployed on the highway up to 30km from the site of the shooting.

Images from Aarau early on Sunday indicated a heavy police presence in the area, with an armoured vehicle seen blocking a road. Armed police and officers in riot gear could be seen patrolling the streets.

Notably, the police remarked there was still "a strong force" at the crime scene as well as around town "to make sure that if any new information we could respond".

Along with police and fire authorities, the regional disaster response unit (KKE) was deployed, according to broadcaster SRF.

According to It additionally, a Swiss Army helicopter could be seen surveying the area in the early hours.

Although violent shootings are rare and tighter controls were introduced over recent years, switzerland has one for the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe.

When 14 members of the parliament and local administration of Zug, near Lucerne, were killed by a gunman who then took his own life, the last major shooting occurred in 2001.

Taken together, the developments around manhunt after shooting at Swiss rave kills woman, 22, and injures five point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.