Swiss authorities have released new findings regarding the tragic bus fire that occurred last week in Chiètres, in the canton of Fribourg, which left six people dead.
According to the Fribourg Cantonal Police, nine people were on board the postal bus when the fire broke out at around 6:25 PM—including the driver, seven passengers, and the suspected perpetrator.
Three individuals managed to escape the bus with injuries, while a 56-year-old woman remains in critical condition in hospital. Two additional people outside the bus were slightly injured while trying to help the victims.
Investigators confirmed that the suspected perpetrator was a 65-year-old Swiss man, who also died in the incident. Authorities say the evidence so far indicates that he acted alone, though the exact motive remains unclear. The main line of investigation currently considers a suicide act that also endangered others.
Technical examinations showed that the bus was equipped with two passenger doors, both functioning properly and opening once the vehicle came to a stop. However, the fire started while the bus was still moving, preventing passengers from exiting until it stopped completely.
After identification procedures and autopsies were completed, the bodies of the six victims were returned to their families last week. The youngest victim was a 16-year-old boy.
Authorities also confirmed that the 65-year-old suspect was known to social services in the canton of Bern and was under administrative guardianship. On the day of the incident, he had left a hospital in Bern, where he had sought treatment for health issues, and had previously made suicide threats.
Following the tragedy, more than 150 people have sought psychological support from crisis assistance teams.
In solidarity with the victims, postal bus drivers across Switzerland observed a minute of silence and sounded their bus horns in tribute to those who lost their lives.
