At least six dead after ‘man douses himself in petrol and sets himself on fire’ on bus

At least six people have been killed and five others are wounded after a fire broke out inside a bus. 

Emergency services raced to the scene Tuesday evening, March 10, where the entire vehicle was seen engulfed in flames in Kerzers, Fribourg, Switzerland. 

By the time the fire department arrived, only a charred shell of the postal bus remained. 

Officers have launched a probe into the incident following reports that a man had set himself on fire on the bus. 

A spokeswoman for the Freiburg police said a scene will be in place “throughout the night” as the investigation continues. 

Officers said the fire may have been sparked by an “arsonist act” and explained they had received information that a person had doused themselves with gasoline. The force is yet to confirm this. 

“We have information that a person was responsible for the fire,” police said. 

The bus was travelling a route from Düdingen to Kerzers when the fire erupted just before the final stop. Three of the five injured people were taken to the hospital, while the other two were treated at the scene. 

Nine ambulances and an air ambulance were deployed to the scene, where fire engines were also seen parked beside a sealed off area. 

Freiburg police declined to comment on whether a suspected perpetrator was among the deceased or wounded. 

“We are not releasing any information on that at this time,” officers said.