A bus fire in western Switzerland has left six people dead and five others injured, with police investigating the blaze as a suspected deliberate act.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in Kerzers, a town in the Fribourg canton. The fire erupted on a regional PostBus, a service operated by Switzerland’s national postal system, completely destroying the vehicle. Emergency services, including ambulances and helicopters, transported multiple victims with severe injuries to hospitals, while others received treatment at the scene.
Fribourg police spokesperson Frédéric Papaux stated that investigators have “elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus.” Another police representative noted that initial reports indicated a person may have doused themselves in petrol and ignited the fire, though this account remains unconfirmed.
Swiss media, citing a video from the scene, reported that an injured individual claimed a man had set himself on fire after pouring gasoline over his body. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims.
Police are actively examining the circumstances but have declined to comment on potential links to terrorism, calling it too early to determine a motive. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to establish the precise cause of the fire.
The tragedy has drawn attention to public transport safety in the region. PostBus, a major carrier in rural and urban Switzerland, is cooperating with authorities. Further details are expected as the forensic investigation progresses.
