Gunfire Erupts at Rave in Switzerland, Several Victims Reported

Several people have been reported as victims after gunfire erupted during an event in Aarau, northern Switzerland, in the early hours of Sunday, prompting a major police operation.

The shooting occurred at the Schachen horse-racing track, where a rave event was taking place. Aargau cantonal police confirmed that several victims had been reported but did not initially disclose how many people were injured or their conditions.

Police said a large-scale operation was underway at the scene and urged members of the public to stay away from the area. Authorities have also appealed for witnesses and people with photographs or videos of the incident to come forward.

According to reports citing Swiss newspaper Blick, the shots were fired at around 3 a.m. during or near the rave, which was attended by thousands of people. Witness accounts described a sudden burst of gunfire that initially sounded to some attendees like fireworks.

Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported that police said shots had been fired into a crowd near the racetrack and that there were likely several injured people. A military Super Puma helicopter was also involved in the emergency response.

At the time of the latest reports, authorities had not confirmed whether there were fatalities, nor had they identified a suspect or established a motive for the shooting.

The area around the event venue was placed under a heavy police presence as investigators worked to establish exactly what happened.

Reuters also reported that authorities had not yet disclosed the number of victims or the extent of their injuries.