Shots were fired during a rave party in Aarau, in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, on the night of Saturday, August 29, to Sunday, August 30. Cantonal police have confirmed several victims but have not yet released the exact number or the severity of their injuries. A large emergency and security operation was deployed around the Schachen racecourse, where the event was taking place.
Gunshots shortly before 3 a.m.
The shooting broke out shortly before 3 a.m. at the Aarau racecourse, while the "Aarauer Rave" was in full swing. The techno event had begun Saturday afternoon and was scheduled to continue until 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Several thousand people were present throughout the evening. The Aargau cantonal police quickly confirmed the seriousness of the situation. "Aarau : Nighttime gunfire at an event at Schachen. Several victims. A major police operation is underway. Stay away from the area ," the authorities stated. At this stage, the police have not released a precise casualty count.
Shots fired towards the crowd
Initial reports from police indicate that several shots were fired while a large crowd was present at the site. Vanessa Rumpold, spokesperson for the Aargau cantonal police, confirmed that the operation was focused on the racetrack. "We don't yet know exactly what happened ," she stated in the first few hours following the incident. Authorities have confirmed multiple shots and several victims, but the precise circumstances remain to be established. Witnesses at the rave reported hearing several successive explosions. Some attendees reportedly initially thought they were fireworks before realizing they were gunshots. Some people then lay down on the ground or sought cover.
Police, ambulances, firefighters and army helicopter
The scale of the deployment reflects the seriousness of the situation. Numerous police patrols, ambulances, and firefighters were mobilized around the racecourse. The cantonal disaster relief unit was also deployed. A Super Puma helicopter from the Swiss Army was mobilized as part of the operation. The Schachen area was largely cordoned off to allow emergency services and security forces to work. The Aarau swimming pool, located in the affected area, will remain closed until further notice. Authorities are asking the public to stay away from the Schachen district.
Who fired the shot? The circumstances remain unknown.
Several hours after the shooting, many questions remain unanswered. The identity of the shooter or shooters has not been officially released, and authorities have not yet specified whether any suspects have been arrested or are being actively sought. The motive is also unknown. The cantonal police have asked anyone who witnessed the events and has photos or videos to send them to investigators to help reconstruct the sequence of events.
A rave party bringing together several thousand people
The "Aarauer Rave Vol. 7" took place at the Schachen racecourse. Approximately 3,500 people attended the event throughout the evening. Several areas and stages were dedicated to electronic music. The gunfire triggered panic among the remaining attendees. Law enforcement subsequently secured a large area around the racecourse while emergency services attended to the victims.
