Arau Police Mobilise in Manhunt After Rave Shooting

A 22‑year‑old Italian woman named Maria Spinelli died at the scene of a rave hosted at a horse racing track near Aarau, Switzerland, and five others were injured.

The shooting began shortly after 02:30 local time, when the music abruptly stopped and gunshots were recorded. Witnesses reported being told to hide by a man and a woman, the latter of whom was shot.

Arau cantonal police are conducting a large‑scale manhunt for the perpetrator. Police say there are currently no leads on the shooter’s identity or whether it was one or multiple individuals. High‑level officers in riot gear patrol the streets, and an armoured vehicle blocks a main road.

A Swiss Army helicopter was seen surveying the area in the early hours, and the regional disaster response unit, KKE, has been deployed. The event organisers expected up to 3,500 attendees, but the shooting forced a sudden evacuation.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Swiss authorities to provide full transparency and work with Italian officials. The Italian Embassy in Bern and the consulate in Zurich are monitoring the situation, and two other Italians who were slightly injured have already returned home.

The incident has reignited discussions about Switzerland’s gun‑ownership laws. While firearms ownership is high, violent shootings are rare, and stricter controls have been introduced in recent years.