Fribourg cantonal police have confirmed that six people died after a fire was intentionally set on a PostBus in Kerzers. New details indicate nine people were on board at the time, with three managing to escape with injuries.
"Since the fire broke out when the bus was moving, opening them could take place only after the bus had come to a complete stop."
"A 56-year-old woman is still in a critical state."
Fribourg is reeling from a staggering tragedy that has claimed six lives in a matter of minutes. Police have confirmed that the devastating fire aboard a PostBus in Kerzers was not an accident, but a deliberate act of violence. Precisely nine people were on board the vehicle last Tuesday evening—a driver and eight passengers—when the inferno erupted shortly before 6:30 pm. While three individuals managed to escape the burning vehicle with injuries, six others, including the perpetrator, perished in the flames.
The swiftness of the destruction has shocked the nation. Authorities have now definitively stated that the fire was intentionally set, transforming a routine commute into a deadly trap. Among the survivors, a 56-year-old woman remains in a critical state, fighting for her life. This is not merely a transport accident; it is a crime scene of horrific proportions that has left the quiet community of Kerzers grappling with unprecedented grief.
The man responsible for this horrific act has been identified as Peter M., a 65-year-old Swiss national described by police as "disturbed." New details paint a picture of a man living on the fringes of society. For years, Peter M. lived as a recluse in a camping car near a farm in Canton Bern, a stay originally intended for a single winter that stretched into years of isolation. Reports indicate he was battling severe addiction problems and was known to police for violations of the Federal Narcotics Act.
His life was unraveling rapidly before the attack. He had recently been evicted from his campsite for failing to pay fees and was under administrative guardianship. Just days before the tragedy, he disappeared from a hospital in Bern, prompting a missing person alert. Despite police patrols searching his camper, he remained elusive until he boarded the bus in Kerzers. While social services noted no prior indication that he was a danger to others, his deteriorating health and desperate circumstances culminated in a final, fatal act.
The terror inside the vehicle was compounded by the mechanics of the bus itself. Technical findings reveal a harrowing detail: the passengers were effectively trapped while the vehicle was in motion. Fribourg police emphasized that while the bus was equipped with two passenger doors that functioned correctly, safety mechanisms dictated that "opening them could take place only after the bus had come to a complete stop."
Because the fire was ignited while the bus was moving, the seconds before the driver could halt the vehicle likely determined the fate of those on board. Once the bus stopped, the doors opened, allowing three people to escape the inferno. Two brave bystanders also suffered injuries while attempting to rescue victims from the blaze. This delay between the ignition of the fire and the opening of the doors highlights the terrifying vulnerability of the passengers in those critical, final moments.
The Fribourg Public Prosecutor's Office is now favoring the hypothesis of a murder-suicide. Investigators have confirmed that Peter M. acted alone, ending his own life while taking five others with him. While the specific motive remains unclear, the impact on the region is undeniable. A massive support operation has been launched, with over 150 people already receiving psychological assistance from care teams.
This tragedy confronts Switzerland with uncomfortable questions about mental health monitoring and public safety. Although Peter M. was under guardianship, the system failed to predict this explosion of violence. As the investigation continues, the focus shifts to supporting the grieving families and the survivors who witnessed the unthinkable. The hotline established on the night of the fire has been deactivated, but the scars on the community of Kerzers will likely remain for years to come.