Switzerland Bus Fire Kills Six, Police Suspect Deliberate Act

A regional bus in western Switzerland was destroyed by fire on the evening of March 10, 2026, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. The blaze erupted on the bus in the main street of the small town of Kerzers, about 20 kilometers west of the Swiss capital Bern, at around 6:25 pm.

Six people were killed and five injured when the fire broke out. Three of the injured are in critical condition. A paramedic who intervened to provide assistance was among those injured, along with four passengers.

Switzerland Bus Fire: What Police Have Said

Police spokesperson Frederic Papaux of Fribourg canton said at a news conference: "At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus." Police would not elaborate on why they believe the fire could have been deliberately started.

Investigators were looking into reports that a person had poured fuel on themselves, said Christa Bielmann, another local police spokesperson. It was too early to say whether the incident was terror-related, she told a press conference. Police communications head Martial Pugin told Swiss breakfast radio on Wednesday: "At the moment, no element highlights" a terrorist act.

Fribourg Canton police communications chief Martial Pugin confirmed that while "an intentional act is the most likely scenario," "at present there is no evidence" it was a terror attack.

Fribourg police said in a statement that a criminal investigation had been opened by public prosecutors "to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy."

Eyewitness Accounts of the Switzerland Bus Fire

According to Swiss daily Blick, an Albanian witness who was covered in ash said: "A man set himself on fire inside. He poured gasoline and set himself on fire!" Other eyewitnesses reportedly had similar accounts of the incident.

Swiss media outlet 20 Minutes reported that it obtained a video recorded at the scene in which an injured person reportedly said: "A man set himself on fire. He poured gasoline over himself and then lit himself."

Authorities said they could not immediately confirm reports that a person had doused themselves in gasoline. It is not clear how many passengers were inside the bus at the time of the incident. Police spokesperson Papaux noted that people were fleeing the vehicle when first responders arrived.

About the PostBus Service

The bus involved was a PostBus, a feature of Swiss rural life. The distinctive yellow buses serve more remote areas, connecting them with towns, while also carrying letters and parcels. They are used by around half a million people every day, notably schoolchildren.

According to reports, the bus was travelling from Düdingen to Kerzers when the fire broke out before the last stop. Images from the scene on Swiss media showed flames tearing through the bus. "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 injured people with severe injuries to hospitals, while two others were treated on site.

Reactions and Context

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said on X:

"I am shocked and saddened that people in Switzerland have once again lost their lives in a serious fire. The circumstances are being investigated. I would like to express my condolences to the families of those who died in Kerzers. My thoughts are also with the injured and the emergency services."

PostBus said:

"This tragic news deeply affects us all. Our thoughts are with the injured and the families of the deceased. A psychological support team will be available to staff" as of Wednesday.

The incident echoed a New Year's Eve fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 young people, less than six weeks before the Kerzers bus fire.

The investigation remains active. Swiss authorities have not released the identity of the individual believed to have started the fire, and no motive has been established.