Swiss Man Arrested After Fatal Shooting at Techno Rave

Marcus H.—The 43‑year‑old Swiss suspect was arrested shortly before 01:00 local time on Monday following a shooting that killed Italian 22‑year‑old Maria Spinelli and injured seven others at a techno rave held on the grounds of the Schachen horse‑racing track in Aarau.

The shooting started around 02:30 on Sunday when police received reports of gunfire. Maria Spinelli died at the scene while four men and a woman, aged between 24 and 27, were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Police confirmed that the suspect acted alone and the investigation into the exact sequence of events, the perpetrator’s background and possible motive is underway. A quick police response led to the suspect’s capture after an extensive 24‑hour manhunt.

The event had expected an attendance of 3,500 people in Aarau, a town of 23,000 residents. The shooting prompted local media to note that police in Austria and Germany were ready to support Swiss forces due to the proximity of the Swiss‑German border.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced confidence that Swiss authorities would unveil all details of the incident, while Italy’s foreign ministry has dispatched officials to Zurich to closely monitor the investigation.

Switzerland ranks high in European gun ownership, but violent shootings are still rare, and tighter gun controls were introduced in recent years. The last major shooting event occurred in 2001 when a gunman killed 14 members of the Regierungsrat in Zug before taking his own life.