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Swiss Police Arrest Suspect After Shooting at Aarau Rave Kills One

The arrest converts a nationwide manhunt into a criminal probe focused on motive, weapons and the exact sequence of events.

Overview

  • A 22-year-old woman was killed and five people in their 20s were wounded when shots were fired at the Aarauer Rave at the Schachen horse-racing track on Sunday morning.
  • Police arrested a 43-year-old Swiss man shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday on strong suspicion of carrying out the attack and now treat the case as an ongoing criminal investigation that likely involved a lone perpetrator.
  • Investigators recovered shell casings at the scene that indicate two different calibres of ammunition, prompting forensic work to determine whether a handgun and a larger weapon were used and to establish the shooting’s precise sequence.
  • Authorities mounted a large emergency response with cordons, a military helicopter, special units and cross-border assistance from German police, and they have appealed to attendees for photos and video to help the probe.
  • Reports differ on victim identity because Swiss privacy rules restrict early naming; Italy’s prime minister named the deceased as Maria Spinelli and the incident, rare in Switzerland, could prompt reviews of event security and policing at large public gatherings.