Original article (in Albanian) was published on 19/03/2026; Author: Patris Pustina
A tragedy that occurred in Switzerland on March 10, 2026, is being distorted on Albanian-speaking social media, where it is falsely claimed that an Albanian sprayed a bus with gasoline and set it ablaze, causing the death of 6 people.
According to local media reports, six people died and five were injured in the fire that broke out on a bus in Kerzers, Fribourg. The suspected perpetrator of the crime was also among the deceased.
However, no report claims that the suspected arsonist was Albanian.
The passenger, identified as a man in his 60s from Bern, poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire. He had previously been reported missing by his family and did not appear to have any motives related to terrorism, Swiss authorities said.
A witness stated in his statement that a man … of Swiss origin boarded the bus carrying bags. At one point, he doused himself with a flammable substance and set himself on fire,” Fribourg cantonal public prosecutor Raphael Bourquin said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Philippe Allain, a regional police commander, told journalists that investigators had obtained information indicating the man had psychological issues.
An Albanian was indeed among those injured in the tragedy. Swiss media outlet Blick reported that 32-year-old Faton Morina was on the bus when the fire started and promptly informed his cousin, Arbi Berisha.
A video was shared on social media showed the first seconds of the bus fire. The video also shows Morina saying, in Albanian, “Oh brother, a man set himself on fire. He poured gasoline and set himself on fire.”
According to local media reports, six people died and five were injured in the fire that broke out on a bus in Kerzers, Fribourg. The suspected perpetrator of the crime was also among the deceased.
However, no report claims that the suspected arsonist was Albanian.
The passenger, identified as a man in his 60s from Bern, poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire. He had previously been reported missing by his family and did not appear to have any motives related to terrorism, Swiss authorities said.
A witness stated in his statement that a man … of Swiss origin boarded the bus carrying bags. At one point, he doused himself with a flammable substance and set himself on fire,” Fribourg cantonal public prosecutor Raphael Bourquin said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Philippe Allain, a regional police commander, told journalists that investigators had obtained information indicating the man had psychological issues.
An Albanian was indeed among those injured in the tragedy. Swiss media outlet Blick reported that 32-year-old Faton Morina was on the bus when the fire started and promptly informed his cousin, Arbi Berisha.
A video was shared on social media showed the first seconds of the bus fire. The video also shows Morina saying, in Albanian, “Oh brother, a man set himself on fire. He poured gasoline and set himself on fire.”
Morina sustained injuries in multiple areas, “mainly on his hands, nose, and legs,” said Arbi Berisha. Physically, his cousin is okay. However, “he is currently very traumatized.”
