Six die in Swiss bus fire after man thought to have set himself alight | Police News
Authorities Investigate Fatal Bus Fire in Kerzers, Switzerland
At least six people lost their lives in a tragic bus fire in Kerzers, a small town in the western canton of Fribourg, on Tuesday evening. Officials believe the blaze may have been triggered by a man who reportedly set himself on fire onboard.
Fribourg’s public prosecutor, Raphael Bourquin, stated in a news conference that the man believed to be responsible for the incident likely perished in the fire. Witnesses reported seeing an individual of Swiss origin board the bus with bags, after which he doused himself with a flammable substance before igniting the fire.
Bourquin emphasized that authorities currently have no evidence to suggest the fire was an act of terrorism. He noted the man’s family had recently reported him missing and described him as a marginalized and disturbed individual in his sixties.
The victims, aged between 17 and 65, suffered injuries alongside the fatalities. Three of the injured were transported to hospitals, while two others received treatment at the scene. As of Wednesday, two individuals remained hospitalized, while one had been discharged.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect boarded the bus in Duedingen at approximately 5:45 p.m. CET and later ignited himself in Kerzers around 6:25 p.m., causing the fire to engulf the vehicle.
Authorities have indicated that the incident appears to be a voluntary act, lacking any ideological motive. Investigators are examining social media footage and CCTV recordings to uncover further details about the man’s actions.
A hotline has been established for witnesses to provide information, and a criminal investigation has been launched by public prosecutors.
This incident marks a second devastating fire in Switzerland this year, following a January blaze at a bar in Crans-Montana that claimed 41 lives and injured over 100 others.
In response to the tragedy, Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his condolences via social media, extending sympathy to the relatives of the deceased and those affected by the incident.
Zeynel Teke, a local vendor who witnessed the fire, described it as heartbreaking. “It’s so sad to see people burning in front of your eyes,” he remarked. “It could be my child; it could be yours.”
Officials continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
