One dead, five injured in shooting at Swiss rave

One person was killed and five others were injured, some seriously, in a shooting at a large rave in the Swiss town of Aarau early Sunday morning, prompting a major police operation and a search for the perpetrators. The incident occurred at the Schachen horse racing track during the annual Aarau Rave event, which was attended by approximately 3,500 people.

According to Aargau cantonal police, shots were fired into a large crowd at around 3 a.m. local time on August 30, 2026. Witnesses reported initially mistaking the gunfire for fireworks. Police spokeswoman Vanessa Rumpold confirmed the location was the racecourse, stating that "several shots were fired within a large group of people." The event, a techno party, had been scheduled to run from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.

Emergency services responded swiftly, with police, firefighters, and medical teams securing a large area around the venue. A Swiss military Super Puma helicopter was also deployed over the wider Aarau area, though its specific role was not detailed by authorities. The nearby Aarau Swimming Pool was closed as a precaution due to the ongoing operation.

Police launched a large-scale operation and urged...