Suspect in fatal Swiss bus fire had no terror links, police say
[March 12, 2026]
By JAMEY KEATEN and CLAUDIA CIOBANU
GENEVA (AP)
— A bus passenger who doused himself in a flammable substance and set it
on fire, killing six people, had previously been reported missing by his
family and didn't appear to have any terror-related motive, Swiss
authorities said Wednesday.
The suspect
is believed to be among the deceased aboard the burning bus on Tuesday
in the town of Kerzers, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of
Switzerland's capital, Bern. Five other people were injured. |
Fire investigators examine the charred shell of a bus that caught fire
in Kerzers, Switzerland, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, killing several
passengers and severely injuring several others, according to police.
(Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP) |
|
Police had previous knowledge of the Swiss suspect and his
profile in a medical context rather than a criminal one,
according to Raphaël Bourquin, the regional attorney general. No
further details were given.
Philippe Allain, a regional police commander, told reporters
that investigators have received information the man had
psychological problems.
Identification of the bodies could take days. For locals, the
tragedy echoes the New Year’s Eve fire in the Swiss ski resort
of Crans-Montana that killed 41 young people.
“It shocks and saddens me that once again people have lost their
lives in a serious fire in Switzerland,” 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.”
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 engulfing the vehicle.
"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 transported three people with
severe injuries to hospitals, while two others were treated at
the scene, police said.
The burned-out vehicle was removed during the night and traffic
returned to normal as of Wednesday morning.
___
Claudia Ciobanu reported from Warsaw, Poland. David Keyton,
Kerstin Sopke and Stefanie Dazio contributed to this report from
Berlin.
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