A manhunt for the gunman is underway (Picture: EPA)

A manhunt has been launched after a gunman opened fire at an event in Switzerland.

One person has died and five people were injured – some seriously – in the shooting,which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police say the attack broke out near a horse racing track in Schachen,Aarau,west of Zurich.

Local media reports have suggested the shooting took place during a rave.

‘The manhunt for the unknown perpetrator is under way,’ Aargau Cantonal Police said in a statement. ‘Possible motives as well as the exact circumstances of the crime are still unclear.’

A police cordon is in place at a horse racing track where the shooting is understood to have taken place (Picture: EPA)

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Vanessa Rumpold,media spokesperson for the Aargau Cantonal Police,said ‘several shots were fired within a large group of people.’‘It is not yet clear what exactly happened,’ she added.Swiss news outlet Blick said several police cars,ambulances,and firefighters are on the scene,where there is a large police presence.Witnesses reported hearing ‘repeated gunfire’ shortly after 2.30am local time.One reader told the publication that her friend,who was at the event,hid under the DJ booth when they heard shots ring out.Another attendee initially thought the loud banging noises were fireworks.The area around the racing track remains cordoned off this morning. Police have asked the public to avoid the area.