Swiss Rave Shooter Arrested After Fatal Shooting of Italian Woman
A 43‑year‑old Swiss man has been arrested following a shooting at a techno rave in Aarau, a town near Zurich. The incident killed 22‑year‑old Italian Maria Spinelli and left several other attendees injured.
The shooting took place at the Schachen horse racing track on Sunday night around 02:30 local time. Police were first alerted to shots fired as the music abruptly stopped and the crowd became alarmed.
Spinelli was pronounced dead at the scene. Four men and a woman between 24 and 27 were transported to hospital with varying injuries from minor cuts to severe wounds.
The authorities say the suspect acted alone. A manhunt that spanned close to 24 hours ended with his apprehension shortly before 01:00 Monday, 23:00 GMT.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged Swiss authorities to "shed full light" on the case, while Italy’s foreign ministry sent officials to Zurich to monitor progress.
Switzerland is noted for its high rate of gun ownership, yet violent shootings are infrequent. The last major gun crime event was in 2001 when a gunman killed 14 members of a parliamentary body in Zug before taking his own life.
Background and Reaction
The event had expected 3,500 attendees. Aarau’s population of 23,000 lives less than 40km from Germany, where police cooperation was reported.
The large crowd and the setting in an outdoor track added complexity to the police’s rapid response and the ongoing investigation.
