On the night between Saturday and Sunday, at the Schachen racecourse in Aarau, someone opened fire in the middle of a rave attended by 3,500 people. The shots rang out at around 2.30 am. At first, some people thought they were fireworks. That was until someone shouted “Everyone on the ground!” and people began to realise what was happening.
A young Italian woman, aged 22, who was living and working in Switzerland, died. Five other people were injured, including two other Italians. The police cordoned off the area and remained on high alert for hours because the perpetrators had still not been located. No arrests were made immediately.
The case gained widespread attention within a few hours. The Italian government reacted publicly. Minister Cassis rang his counterpart Tajani to convey the Federal Council’s condolences. The President of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni, spoke about the victim on social media. Italy sent a task force and representatives from the Italian Embassy in Bern travelled to Aarau.
This is a heavy piece of news. Not only because of the brutality of what happened, but because the victim was exactly the sort of person you’d find in this group: someone who had emigrated, who was working here, who had built a life for themselves in Switzerland. That’s what makes it hit home differently.