A 22-year-old woman was shot dead and five other people were wounded when gunfire erupted at a techno rave in the northern Swiss town of Aarau in the early hours of Sunday, police said, triggering a nationwide manhunt for the attacker or attackers.
- Who: Maria Spinelli, a 22-year-old Italian national, was killed; five others aged 24 to 27 were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to severe. All victims are Swiss residents, Aargau Cantonal Police said.
- What: Shots were fired around 2:30 a.m. at the Schachen horse racing track during “Aarau Rave VOL. 7,” an event attended by about 3,500 people. Two types of ammunition were recovered, suggesting a pistol or submachine gun and an assault rifle were used.
- When: Early Sunday morning, October 18, 2026 (local time), as the rave was winding down.
- Why it matters: Police say they are investigating three possible motives — terrorism, a mass shooting, or another criminal motive — and have not ruled any out. Such shootings are exceptionally rare in Switzerland; the last major one was in 2001 in Zug.
Quick Answer
A 22-year-old Italian woman, Maria Spinelli, was killed and five people were injured in a shooting at a techno rave in Aarau, Switzerland, around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. About 3,500 people were attending the event at the Schachen horse racing track. Swiss police have launched a nationwide manhunt and are investigating terrorism, mass-shooting, and criminal motives.
Gunfire at the Aarau rave
The shooting happened at the Schachen horse racing track in Aarau, the capital of the Aargau canton, about 46 kilometers west of Zurich, according to Aargau Cantonal Police. The venue was hosting “Aarau Rave VOL. 7,” an annual techno event that had run from Saturday afternoon into the early hours of Sunday, with organizers expecting up to 3,500 attendees.
Witnesses described a scene of sudden chaos. One attendee told the Swiss newspaper Blick that the music stopped around 2:30 a.m. and gunshots followed a minute or two later. “I thought it was fireworks and didn’t think anything of it,” the witness said. Another witness told Reuters that partygoers initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks before realizing the danger; some hid under the DJ booth while others ran for cover.
Police said the 22-year-old woman died of her injuries at the scene despite resuscitation attempts. Four men and one woman, aged 24 to 27, were taken to hospital with injuries “ranging from minor to severe,” police said in a statement posted on X. Italy’s government confirmed the woman killed was Italian; Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni named her as Maria Spinelli. Italy’s foreign ministry said two other Italians were lightly injured and that embassy officials went to the scene.
Manhunt underway, motive unknown
A large-scale manhunt is underway across Switzerland, with armed officers, convoys, and armored vehicles deployed, police said. Large parts of Aarau were cordoned off, and officers were stationed on highways up to 30 kilometers from the shooting site. German media reported that police on the German side of the border were supporting Swiss forces. Aarau lies less than 40 kilometers from Germany.
Investigators say they still do not know how many attackers were involved or what motivated the shooting. Forensic teams recovered cartridges of two different calibers at the scene, indicating the possible use of both a pistol or submachine gun and a larger firearm such as an assault rifle, police said.
“Where an active shooter is firing into a crowd of thousands of people at an event, it’s perfectly clear that we consider terrorism as a motive,” Aargau police commander Michael Leupold told reporters. “We are treating all three possibilities as equally likely” — terrorism, a mass shooting, or another criminal motive. Police spokesman Bernhard Graser said investigators had “no reliable information regarding the perpetrators” and did not know whether they fled on foot or in a vehicle.
Swiss DJ Tekibo, who performed at the rave, wrote on Instagram that the incident was “heartbreaking” and said he had lost a friend. “Techno and raves should be places of freedom and safety, never places where something like this happens,” he wrote.
Rare violence in Switzerland
The shooting is a rare event in Switzerland despite the country’s widespread gun ownership, which is tied to its militia army tradition. The last major shooting occurred in 2001, when a gunman killed 14 members of the cantonal parliament and local government in Zug before taking his own life. Mass-casualty attacks at public events remain extraordinarily uncommon in the Alpine nation, making Sunday’s violence a national shock. European security incidents have drawn global attention this year, including the missile strike on Aden airport and escalating strikes in the Ukraine war.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Switzerland shooting?
Maria Spinelli, a 22-year-old Italian national, was killed at the scene in Aarau, according to Italy’s government. All of the victims were residents of Switzerland, Aargau Cantonal Police said.
How many people were injured in the Aarau rave shooting?
Five people — four men and one woman, aged 24 to 27 — were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to severe, police said. Two of the injured are Italian citizens, according to Italy’s foreign ministry.
Has the shooter been caught?
No. As of the latest police updates, a nationwide manhunt is underway and investigators say they have no reliable information about the perpetrator or perpetrators, including how many were involved.
Is terrorism suspected in the Switzerland shooting?
Police say terrorism is one of three motives under investigation, alongside a mass-shooting scenario and another criminal motive. “We are treating all three possibilities as equally likely,” Aargau police commander Michael Leupold said.
Where did the shooting happen?
At the Schachen horse racing track in Aarau, northern Switzerland, during “Aarau Rave VOL. 7,” a techno event attended by about 3,500 people. Aarau is about 46 kilometers west of Zurich.
Reporting based on statements from Aargau Cantonal Police, and coverage by Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Blick, and Italy’s foreign ministry. Details last checked Sunday, October 18, 2026; the investigation is ongoing and details may change.
