GENEVA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- A fatal shooting at a rave party in the early hours of Sunday has left one young woman dead and five others injured, as Swiss police are conducting a nationwide manhunt for the unidentified perpetrators.
In a press conference held on Sunday evening, Swiss authorities detailed the latest findings from the deadly shooting. According to the police spokesperson, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) at the Schachen horse racing track in Aarau, capital of Switzerland's northern Aargau canton, where the "Aarau Rave VOL. 7" was concluding.
By the time shots were fired, the event had officially ended at 2:00 a.m., with only about 100 people still on the premises. Witnesses reported hearing what initially sounded like fireworks, with shots ringing out over several minutes as attendees were leaving.
A 22-year-old Italian woman residing in Switzerland died at the scene. Five others - four men and one woman aged 24 to 27, all Swiss residents - were hospitalized, two of whom are also Italian nationals. Police confirmed that none of the injured are in life-threatening condition.
Cantonal Police Commander Michael Leupold told reporters that authorities are pursuing three hypotheses: a terrorist attack, a rampage, or a criminal act such as a settling of accounts in an as-yet-unknown milieu. No motive has been prioritized, and investigators are examining all possibilities.
Ballistic evidence shows shots were fired from two different locations at the scene. Police recovered shell casings of two calibers: pistol ammunition and casings from a long weapon, such as an assault rifle. A "significant number of shots" were reportedly discharged.
A large-scale nationwide manhunt is underway. Police believe the perpetrators have fled the Aarau area and do not currently pose an immediate threat. The operation has mobilized all available Aargau police forces, with support from other cantons, the special unit Argus, the cantonal disaster response element (KKE), and a Swiss Army Super Puma helicopter. German police are also participating in the search as part of routine cross-border cooperation.
As of Sunday evening, police had no concrete leads on the identity or number of the perpetrators, and they ruled out any renewed threat from the shooter(s).
