One person was killed and five others were wounded, some of them seriously, in a shooting at a rave party in northern Switzerland, local police said on Sunday.
“The search for the perpetrators, whose identities are currently unknown, is under way,” they said on X, adding that the motives and exact circumstances were not yet known.
Police launched what they called a “large-scale response” to find the perpetrators after the incident in Aarau, north of Zurich.
An AFP journalist saw armed officers deployed on the highway up to 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the site of the shooting.
Swiss newspaper Blick reported on its website that the shots were fired before 3:00 am (0100 GMT) on the sidelines of the Aarauer Rave.
Some 3,500 people attended the annual techno party between 3:00 pm on Saturday and 2:00 am on Sunday.
Police spokeswoman Vanessa Rumpold was quoted as telling the newspaper that the shooting happened at the racecourse where the event was held.
“Several shots were fired within a large group of people,” she added.
Witnesses told Blick that shots were fired at about 2:30 am while the rave was still going on and that many people took refuge in a nearby gymnasium. Partygoers at first thought the shots were fireworks.
One told the newspaper there was a “burst of gunfire”.
A local resident in Aarau posted a video on social media showing deserted streets and what sounded like several gunshots in the background.
Media reports said an army helicopter was deployed in the cantonal capital, Aargau, as well as numerous police officers, rescue workers and medical teams.
An area around the racing track, the town’s swimming pool and sports field has been cordoned off, with the public urged to stay away.
A large contingent of officers has also been deployed beyond Aarau “as a precaution”, Aargau Cantonal Police said. An AFP journalist reported seeing armed officers deployed on the highway up to 30km (18 miles) from the site of the shooting.
Aarau is located some 46km west of Zurich and is home to approximately 23,000 people. It is also less than 40km (25 miles) from the border with Germany.
German media reported that police on the German side have been providing support to Swiss forces as the manhunt continues.
Switzerland has one for the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, although violent shootings are rare and tighter controls were introduced in recent years.
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