A bus fire that killed 6 people could have been set deliberately, Swiss
police say
[March 11, 2026]
GENEVA (AP) — Police are investigating whether a bus fire in a
town west of the Swiss capital that killed at least six people was
started deliberately.
Police spokesperson Frédéric Papaux of Fribourg canton, or region, said
an unspecified “voluntary act” could have caused the fire Tuesday
evening in the town of Kerzers, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of
Bern.
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Firemen gather next to the charred shell of a postal bus, not pictured,
which caught fire killing several people and injuring others, in Kerzers,
Switzerland, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone
via AP) |
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Five people were also injured in the fire, which for locals
echoed a New Year’s Eve fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana
that killed 41 young people.
Christa Bielmann, representing the Fribourg police, told Swiss
broadcaster SRF: “There is information circulating that a person
poured flammable liquid over themselves on the bus and that this
caused the fire. But this is part of the ongoing investigation
and is being clarified.”
“It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their
lives in a serious fire in Switzerland,” Swiss President Guy
Parmelin wrote on X on Tuesday night. “The circumstances are
being investigated. I offer my condolences to the families of
those who died in Kerzers. And my thoughts are with the injured
and the rescue workers.”
There were no indications that this was a terror attack, Martial
Pugin, head of communications for the Fribourg cantonal police,
told broadcaster RTS on Wednesday morning.
The regional transport bus is operated by PostBus, which is
affiliated with the national postal service. Images from the
scene on Swiss media showed flames tearing through the bus.
"We are deeply moved by this tragic news. Our thoughts are with
the victims, the injured, and all their families,” PostBus said
in a statement on its website.
“After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle
was totally engulfed in flames,” the regional government said in
a statement.
Ambulance and helicopter teams ferried three people with severe
injuries to hospitals, while two others were treated on site,
police said.
Papaux said at least six people were killed. Police said the
identification of the victims could take several days.
The burned-out vehicle was removed during the night and traffic
returned to normal as of Wednesday morning.
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