The fatal fire on a postal bus in Kerzers in the canton of Fribourg, where six people died and five others were injured, has shocked public opinion in Switzerland. According to authorities, there are suspicions that the fire was deliberately started by a man, although the possible motive for this act remains unknown, reports albinfo.ch.
The incident has reignited the debate about public transport safety, as this is not the first time that buses or trains in the country have become the scene of serious crimes.
The 2016 train stabbing and arson attack
One of the most serious incidents occurred on August 13, 2016, on a regional train operated by Südostbahn near Salez in the canton of St. Gallen. A 27-year-old Swiss man poured flammable liquid into the carriage and set it on fire, while attacking passengers with a knife.
As a result of the attack, a 34-year-old woman and the perpetrator died from serious injuries, while a 17-year-old girl later died from burns. Seven people were injured in total, including a six-year-old child. The prosecution's investigation concluded that the perpetrator was a person with serious psychological problems and misogynistic motives.
Terrorist attack in Morges
Another event that shocked the country occurred on September 12, 2020 in Morges in the canton of Vaud. Near the train station, a man attacked a passerby in a kebab restaurant with a knife.
The victim, a 29-year-old man of Portuguese origin, died at the scene. The perpetrator, a Swiss-Turkish citizen, was immediately arrested and later sentenced by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court to 20 years in prison, after the attack was deemed to be motivated by Islamist ideology.
Shooting at Pratteln train station
In June 2022, a man opened fire on passersby at the Pratteln train station in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The perpetrator was heavily intoxicated and his gun jammed, which investigators say may have averted a greater tragedy.
In 2024 he faced justice and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, partially suspended, while experts found that his mental state had been severely impaired at the time of the incident.
Train hostage-taking in Yverdon
Another dramatic incident occurred on February 8, 2024 near Yverdon-les-Bains. A Kurdish-Iranian asylum seeker took 13 people hostage on a train and held them for about four hours at the threat of an axe.
After lengthy negotiations, the police intervened and shot the perpetrator dead. The hostages escaped unharmed. Investigations later revealed that he suffered from severe psychological problems and had developed an obsession with a shelter worker.
Debate on public transport safety
Although public transport in Switzerland is considered among the safest in Europe, incidents in recent years show that it is not immune to acts of violence or individual crises.
The tragedy in Kerzers has raised questions about passenger safety and how authorities can prevent similar incidents in the future, as investigations into the motives behind the fatal fire on the postal bus continue.
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