Swiss authorities reported on Monday the apprehension of a 43-year-old individual in connection with a fatal shooting at a party in Aarau over the weekend. During the early hours of Sunday, a 22-year-old woman from Italy lost her life, and five others sustained injuries at the gathering hosted at a covered horse racing venue. Following an extensive operation, the arrest of the Swiss man occurred just before 1 a.m. on Monday on suspicion of perpetrating the attack, as confirmed by the police.
Law enforcement in the canton of Aargau stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances, background, and potential motive behind the incident. They noted the belief that a single assailant was involved at this stage, withholding further specifics. Authorities indicated that they were exploring three potential motives for the shooting on Sunday, including a mass shooting, an act of terrorism, or an unknown criminal intent.
Upon examining the crime scene, law enforcement discovered cartridges from two different bullet calibers, indicating the potential use of a pistol and a larger weapon, likely an assault rifle. Although the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger referenced similarities between the cartridges found and those typically used in the Russian AK-74 assault rifle and its variations, the police refrained from commenting on the matter. The victim, identified as Maria Spinelli by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, was the 22-year-old Italian who tragically lost her life in the incident.