At least six people are dead and five more injured after a man reportedly soaked himself in petrol and set himself alight inside a passenger coach in western Switzerland on Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred in Kerzers, a small town around 12 miles west of the Swiss capital Bern, shortly after 6.25pm local time. The coach, which was carrying a number of passengers at the time, was rapidly engulfed in flames after the man allegedly ignited the blaze from inside the vehicle.
Videos circulating on social media showed flames rising several metres into the air from the burning coach. Photographs taken after emergency crews brought the fire under control revealed the vehicle had been completely gutted, with little left of the interior structure.
Swiss police confirmed six fatalities and at least five wounded, though officers cautioned that the full scale of casualties is yet to be formally established. At least one person was airlifted from the scene by helicopter, indicating some of the injured are in a serious condition.
When asked directly whether the incident is being treated as a terrorist attack, a police spokesperson declined to answer. “We cannot comment on that at this stage of the investigation,” the spokesperson said, adding that the cause of the blaze remains officially undetermined while enquiries continue.
Fire crews, police, and medical teams remain at the scene as the rescue operation continues. Authorities have asked members of the public to stay away from the area and follow instructions from emergency responders.
The identity of those killed and the full circumstances surrounding the man’s actions have not yet been released by police.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as Swiss authorities release more information.
Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS reported that at least one person was airlifted from the scene by helicopter, suggesting some of those injured are in a serious condition.
Authorities have urged members of the public to stay away from the area and to follow the instructions of emergency responders as crews continue to work at the scene.
Further details are expected to be released by police as the situation develops.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available
