Massive Manhunt Launched After Shooting Kills Woman at Swiss Rave

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:33:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 22‑year‑old woman was killed and five others injured in a shooting at a techno rave in Aarau, Switzerland, prompting a nationwide police hunt for the suspect.

The attack at the Schachen race track in Aarau left Maria Spinelli, an Italian national, dead and four men and a woman wounded. Police have launched a broad manhunt and cordoned the area while foreign officials from Italy and Germany monitor the investigation. The shooting, which occurred around 02:30 local time, has drawn intense media scrutiny and sparked calls for tighter gun control.

Massive Manhunt Launched After Shooting Kills Woman at Swiss Rave

At around 02:30 a.m. local time, a gun fired at the Schachen race track in Aarau, Switzerland, killing 22‑year‑old Maria Spinelli and injuring five others. Police have declared a nationwide manhunt and sealed the surrounding area, including the town’s swimming pool, sports field and nearby roadways.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Swiss authorities to “shed full light on what happened” and vowed a joint effort to find those responsible. The investigation is underway in cooperation with Freiburg police and the German military police, according to the German news agency DPA.

Eyewitness accounts from the venue, where organisers expected up to 3,500 attendees, report sudden gunshots about five minutes after music stopped. An on‑site DJ said the incident happened “straight after our set” while another performer cited the loss of a friend at the time.

The Swiss police have deployed armed officers, riot gear and an armored vehicle, with a Swiss Army helicopter seen surveying the scene early in the morning. The local police chief, Michael Leupold, confirmed that officers “are still in the midst of the operation” and that no leads exist on the shooter's identity as of this writing.

Italy’s foreign ministry has dispatched officials to Zurich to support the investigation, while the Italian Embassy in Bern and the Consulate in Zurich monitor the situation. Two other Italian nationals have been wounded but are home safe.

Witnesses are urged to submit photographs and videos of the scene, which can be uploaded via the PulseWire platform for rapid fact‑checking. Residents of Aarau and the surrounding region are advised to keep away from the cordoned areas for their safety.

Armed officers patrolling near the site

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