Police detail Aarau rave party shooting as motive remains unclear

More than 40 shots fired at a rave party in Aarau killed a 22 year old woman and injured six other people, SRF reported. Police say a 43 year old Swiss man is almost certainly the suspected gunman.

The man, who lives in the canton of Jura, was arrested on Monday after surrendering at a police station in Delémont. He arrived in the suspected getaway vehicle with the weapons. Police had been searching for a vehicle with Jura licence plates after a witness provided information. Video footage helped narrow more than 100 possible vehicles down to a small number.

Police say there are no indications of accomplices. The man was not previously known to Aargau police, apart from minor traffic offences.

How the shooting unfolded

Early on Sunday morning, the man drove to the Aarau Schachen and walked towards the horse-racing track, where the rave party had taken place. From outside the event grounds, he fired an assault rifle more than 40 times at the more than 100 people still present, changing direction several times.

He then returned to the car park and fired additional shots with a pistol, including at a departing vehicle, before fleeing. Police found cartridge cases of different calibres at the scene.

Police have not established a motive

Police classify the shooting with a high degree of certainty as a rampage, but the specific motive remains unclear. They have found no apparent connection between the man and Aarau or any personal relationship with the victims. Police believe he came across the rave party by chance. There are no indications of an ideological or extremist background.

The suspect has exercised his right to remain silent. He told authorities that his health had been poor for some time. Prosecutors say there are indications of a mental illness, but no confirmed findings yet. A psychiatric assessment is being considered.

Weapons registered to the suspect

Police seized two pistols and an AK 74 assault rifle, also known as a Kalashnikov, from the vehicle. Initial forensic analysis has found matches between the weapons and cartridge cases recovered at the scene.

The three weapons, as well as one additional firearm, were properly registered to the man. The permits were issued about 20 years ago. Police said the requirements for obtaining such permits would apparently be stricter today.

Police initially reported five injured people but later corrected the figure to six. Five suffered through and through gunshot wounds. Another person was apparently hit by a ricochet or stray bullet and reported the injury only on Monday.