Man arrested after Swiss rave shooting that killed woman

A 43-year-old Swiss man was arrested following a shooting at a techno rave that killed a 22‑year‑old Italian woman and injured several others.

The shooting took place near the Schachen horse‑racing track in Aarau, a town 46 km west of Zurich. Authorities confirmed that Maria Spinelli died at the scene, while four men and a woman were taken to hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Police received a report of shots fired at about 02:30 local time. An eyewitness said gunshots were heard minutes after the music stopped and that he was told to hide by a man, while a third person was shot.

Organisers had expected 3,500 attendees. The incident has raised concerns about safety at large music events, especially in a country with one of Europe’s highest rates of gun ownership.

Switzerland's police say the investigation into the sequence of events, background and motive is underway and that the perpetrator acted alone. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed confidence that Swiss authorities would uncover the responsible party.

The last major shooting in Switzerland occurred in 2001 when a gunman killed 14 members of a parliament and local government in Zug before taking his own life. Recent tightening of gun controls highlights the ongoing challenge of preventing violent incidents. The case remains a stark reminder of the risks that can affect any community, regardless of cultural or national background.