Manhunt Underway After Fatal Shooting at Swiss Techno Party

A shooting at a techno party in Aarau, Switzerland, left one woman dead and five others injured, some seriously. The victim was identified by the Italian government as 22 year old Maria Spinelli, an Italian citizen and Swiss resident. The incident occurred before 3 a.m. on Sunday at the Aarauer Rave, an annual event held at a racecourse that was attended by approximately 3,500 people. Witnesses reported hearing bursts of gunfire that were initially mistaken for fireworks, prompting many partygoers to seek shelter in a nearby gymnasium.

Swiss police have launched a large scale response, deploying armed officers to highways up to 30 kilometers away and utilizing an army helicopter. Investigators found evidence of two different calibres, including a pistol or submachine gun and an assault rifle, and determined that shots were fired from two separate locations. Authorities are currently cooperating with Freiburg police due to the proximity of the German border.

Police spokesperson Bernhard Graser stated that investigators have no reliable information regarding the perpetrators, including whether the attack was carried out by one person or several. Aargau cantonal police commander Michael Leupold noted that investigators are exploring three hypotheses: a terrorist attack, a mass killing, or a criminal act with an unknown motive.

Reporting on the event varied by political lean. A center lean outlet framed the event as a suspected terror shooting. Center left outlets focused on the lack of information regarding the perpetrators and the discretion of the police. A center right outlet provided extensive context on Switzerland's history of mass shootings and the prevalence of civilian firearm ownership in the country.