A bus caught fire killing at least six people in western Switzerland on the evening of Tuesday, March 10th. Police confirmed that at least three people were taken to hospital, including an injured first responder, with other reports bringing the total hospitalised to five.
The incident took place in the centre of Kerzers, a town in the canton of Fribourg, about 20 km from Bern, the Swiss capital. It appears that the conflagration started within the bus, although the authorities have yet to confirm this. It is rumoured locally that the fire was ignited deliberately by a passenger who doused themselves in gasoline.
Subsequently, investigators began to assess the early indications that an intentional action had led to the tragedy. Stressing that no other vehicle was involved, Fribourg police representative Frederic Papaux stated
At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus [which] left at least six dead and five injured, three of them seriously.
Investigations are ongoing. This is the second major fire-related tragedy in Switzerland this year, following a lethal New Year’s Eve blaze in the Crans-Montana ski resort. However, chillingly, early indications suggest that the Kerzers incident could be pre-meditated.
