Shots fired at crowd in Aarau – Major deployment of police and rescue services

The news agency Keystone-SDA also picked up on the incident, referring to ongoing police investigations. Reports of possible injuries or fatalities were not conclusively available by editorial deadline. Police urged the public to avoid the area.

Investigations underway – hotline for witnesses

Over the course of the evening, emergency services cordoned off parts of the city around the incident. Eyewitnesses reported a large police presence and ambulances heading into the city centre. The situation remained unclear late in the evening.

The Aargau cantonal police announced that an official statement would be issued to the public during the evening or the following morning. Until then, investigators asked that no speculation be spread on social media and that any photos or videos be made available to police.

Real-time media coverage

Media outlets such as SRF and Keystone-SDA reported on the operation in real time. Newsrooms updated their reports continuously as new information became available from the authorities. Supra-regional Swiss media also picked up the story.

The city of Aarau is located in the Swiss Mittelland and is the capital of the canton of Aargau. According to eyewitness accounts, many people were in the city centre on Sunday evening. Which specific location – for instance the Aarau swimming pool, which was repeatedly mentioned in media reports in connection with the operation – was actually affected remained unclear for the time being.

Background: Aarau and the situation in the evening

Federal authorities were informed of the incident, according to SRF. No statement from Bern was available late in the evening. Police pointed out that speculation about the background was currently inappropriate.

For the ongoing investigations, the Aargau cantonal police set up a telephone hotline. Witnesses were asked to call a published number. Investigators secured evidence at the scene and questioned residents.

Coverage of the incident triggered a wave of reactions on social media. Many users expressed their dismay and called for people to trust only official sources. False reports spread rapidly, prompting several platforms to begin flagging posts containing unverified information.

Late in the evening, the situation calmed down somewhat, according to SRF reporter Beat Kälin on the scene, but the operation continued. How many people were injured and how serious the injuries are remained unclear for the time being. Police announced further information for later in the night or early Monday morning.