For decades Switzerland has been perceived as Europe's most stable country, with its picture-perfect Alpine vistas, private banking vaults and neutral status during conflict.
It has long appeared immune to the rising social and political tensions its French, German and Italian neighbours - and increasingly the UK - have been grappling with.
But that perception was shattered this week - after the death of 17-year-old Marvin 'Shalom' Manzila in Lausanne sparked rioting that exposed bitter social divisions that have been quietly festering there without coming to the attention of the wider world.
Lausanne police, called to reports of a stolen motor scooter, soon identified Manzila as a suspect - and gave chase when he refused to pull over.
During the pursuit that followed, the boy lost control of the vehicle and was flung into a nearby wall, suffering a fatal head injury.
