Gunman in deadly Swiss rave attack ‘lone perpetrator’, police say

What the report says

Swiss police say the man suspected of opening fire at a rave in Aarau, northern Switzerland, acted alone, with no evidence so far that anyone else was involved. The shooting early Sunday killed a 22-year-old Italian woman and wounded five other people, according to authorities cited by Al Jazeera. The case has drawn public attention in a country where mass-casualty shootings are relatively uncommon.

Aargau cantonal police commander Michael Leupold said investigators believe with a high degree of certainty that the attack was the work of one person. The suspect, a 43-year-old Swiss man, turned himself in on Monday in Delemont, in the neighboring Jura canton, and has remained silent in custody. Prosecutors said police had not previously known him, and they have not identified a motive.

Aargau cantonal prosecutor Christoph Ruedi said the suspect has psychological problems. Authorities also said two pistols and an AK-47 assault rifle were found in the man’s car. The rave organizers said they were shocked and devastated by the violence and pledged to support the investigation.

More broadly, the case highlights concerns about safety at large public events. Based on the report, investigators are still working to determine why the attack happened, while officials and organizers are treating it as an isolated act rather than part of a wider plot.