KERZERS, Switzerland — At least six people were killed and three others injured when a bus caught fire on a road in the western Swiss town of Kerzers, prompting police to open a criminal investigation and say early evidence points to a deliberate act by someone on board.
Frédéric Papaux, a spokesperson for the Fribourg cantonal police, said investigators had “elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus,” while cautioning that the precise cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Officers have not confirmed reports circulating on social media that an individual poured gasoline on themselves before the fire.
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The blaze erupted in Kerzers, in the canton of Fribourg, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Swiss capital, Bern. Authorities said the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames before emergency crews could bring it under control. Video recorded after the flames were extinguished showed the bus reduced to a charred shell.
Police said three injured people were taken to a hospital. Officials did not immediately release details about the victims or how many people had been aboard the bus. Forensic specialists and fire investigators cordoned off the area to document the scene and recover evidence.
“At this stage,” Papaux said, “we cannot confirm how the fire started.” He added that investigators will examine the remains of the vehicle and interview witnesses to determine the sequence of events and whether any accelerants were used.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered condolences to the families of the victims and said the incident is being investigated. “It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland,” Parmelin said in a statement posted on X.
The suspected arson would be among the country’s deadliest transport-related incidents in recent years. While Switzerland has a strong safety record across its road and public transport networks, high-impact fires have drawn national scrutiny this year. In January, the country was shaken by a blaze in a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 people and injured 115.
Authorities in Fribourg urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims as the investigation proceeds and asked anyone with video or information from the scene to contact police. No arrests or suspects were immediately announced.
Traffic in the area was disrupted as emergency services worked through the wreckage. Officials did not say when the road would reopen.
Further updates are expected as investigators analyze evidence from the site and review surveillance footage and passenger accounts. Police did not provide a timeline for when preliminary findings might be released.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
