A horrific bus fire that claimed six lives in the Swiss town of Kerzers is being treated as a deliberate criminal act after witnesses reported a passenger dousing themselves in fuel.
The yellow PostBus was travelling through the main street of the canton of Fribourg at approximately 6:25 pm on Tuesday, 10 March, when it suddenly became a 'fireball.'
Fribourg cantonal police spokesperson Frederic Papaux confirmed that investigators have 'elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus.'
While six people have been confirmed dead, five others were injured—including a paramedic—with three remaining in a critical condition after being airlifted to specialist units.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Switzerland, occurring just months after the devastating New Year's Day fire in Crans-Montana that killed 41 people.
Witnesses recalled seeing panicked passengers clamouring to escape, some leaping out of windows and others frantically seeking a way out.
'After rushing to the scene, rescue teams noted that the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames,' the officials stated.
The first investigation by the Swiss police provides an alarming clue: the fire was most likely the result of an act of omission. According to an official, there are indications that someone on the bus intentionally set the fire.
'At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus,' he said, adding that the 'fire left at least six dead and five injured, three of them seriously.'
The police are now out searching for witnesses who may have observed suspicious activity in advance.
Source: International Business Times UK
