At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reported a man inside the vehicle set himself alight. Three others were injured and taken to hospital, while authorities continue their investigation.
The fire broke out on Tuesday evening at around 6.25pm (local time), engulfing the vehicle on a local road approximately 20km (12 miles) from Bern, the Swiss capital. Witnesses reported that a man on the bus poured petrol over himself and set himself alight, a claim supported by multiple accounts and shared in a video obtained by Swiss newspaper Blick.
Fribourg police spokesperson Frederic Papaux said, “At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus.”
Another spokesperson, Christa Bielmann, added that it was too early to determine whether the incident was linked to terrorism.
Authorities later said five people were injured in the incident, with three reported to be in critical condition. The injured include four passengers and a paramedic who had intervened to provide assistance. Others escaped the flames with panic and burns. The victims’ identities have not yet been released.
Video footage after the fire was extinguished showed the charred remains of the bus. Authorities have set up barriers to shield the vehicle and have urged residents to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his condolences, saying on X, “It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland.”
In an interview with Swiss public broadcaster RTS, Fribourg Canton police communications chief Martial Pugin said an intentional act appeared the most likely explanation, but added that investigators had found no evidence so far that the fire was linked to terrorism.
The bus involved was operated by PostBus, the country’s distinctive yellow rural transport network that connects remote communities with towns and also carries letters and parcels. The service transports around half a million passengers daily, including many schoolchildren.
Investigators have appealed for additional witnesses to come forward with information about the moments leading up to the fire.
The incident comes less than three months after another deadly blaze in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, where a bar fire on New Year’s Day killed 41 people and injured 115 others.
Police have confirmed they are treating the Kerzers fire as a possible “wilful act” and have not ruled out the involvement of terrorism. Investigators continue to gather evidence and question witnesses.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday...
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are m...
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his governmen...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment