Manhunt under way after deadly shooting at rave in Switzerland

A manhunt is under way after a 22-year-old woman was killed and five others were injured in a shooting at an event in Switzerland, police say.

The shooting is believed to have happened at a rave and some of the victims were seriously injured.

Police said "nighttime shots" were reported in Schachen, in Aarau, the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau, and that a major operation has been launched.

The Aargau cantonal police urged the public to stay away from the area and said the local horse racing track, swimming pool and sports field have been cordoned off due to the ongoing operation.

A witness told Swiss newspaper Blick that shots were fired ‌around 2.30 am on Sunday morning, and that he tried unsuccessfully to reanimate a woman bleeding from a gunshot wound.

A 22-year-old woman died at the scene, police said, while four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, are in hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe.

All victims are Swiss residents.

Police spokesperson Pascal Wenzel told Swiss public broadcaster SRF that officers were alerted to the shooting around 2.30am local time (1.30am UK time).

At the time of the incident, the "Aarau Rave VOL. 7" was taking place at the horse racing track, SRF reported.

People at the rave initially mistook the shots for fireworks until somebody shouted "everyone down", according to Swiss daily Blick.

It said the shooting happened right after the event finished.

Police said the perpetrator's motives and the exact circumstances of the shooting were still unclear.

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The organisers' website ⁠advertised the event as a techno party at a covered horse racetrack, with 3,500 people expected
to attend.

The town of Aarau, which has about 22,300 residents, is 46 km (28.5 miles) west of Zurich.

(c) Sky News 2026: Manhunt under way after deadly shooting at rave in Switzerland