Swiss prosecutors have requested a male bar manager be placed in pre-trial detention over the fatal fire at an Alpine bar during New Year's celebrations. The move comes as part of a broader investigation into the owners of Le Constellation bar, where 40 people died and 116 were injured, many critically.
In a statement, chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said the detention was necessary to avoid a "risk of flight" and that the man's wife and co-manager will remain free under judicial supervision. The owners are suspected of involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with officials saying that sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles likely ignited the blaze when they came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are also looking into whether soundproofing material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the use of candles was permitted.
Fire safety inspections had not been carried out since 2019, raising questions about how the tragedy could have occurred. DNA samples were needed from some victims due to the severity of their burns, which made identification difficult.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted, saying "the result of too many people who didn't do their job or thought they were making easy money." The State Attorney General's Office in Italy has contacted the Swiss Attorney General as part of an international investigation.
In a statement, chief prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said the detention was necessary to avoid a "risk of flight" and that the man's wife and co-manager will remain free under judicial supervision. The owners are suspected of involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with officials saying that sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles likely ignited the blaze when they came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are also looking into whether soundproofing material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the use of candles was permitted.
Fire safety inspections had not been carried out since 2019, raising questions about how the tragedy could have occurred. DNA samples were needed from some victims due to the severity of their burns, which made identification difficult.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted, saying "the result of too many people who didn't do their job or thought they were making easy money." The State Attorney General's Office in Italy has contacted the Swiss Attorney General as part of an international investigation.
and I'm thinking, have you ever tried to get a decent vegan cake in Europe? Like, the Swiss bar fire incident is so sad 
, but what's up with those candle things? Like, shouldn't they've been removed by now? And the investigation just keeps going on... anyway, back to that cake, I swear it had like 12 ingredients and none of them were animal products 
. On a more serious note, I do hope justice is served for the victims' families 
.
like whats going on at Le Constellation bar?! 40 ppl died and 116 got hurt bad but it gets even crazier when ur hearing about the bar manager gettin pre-trial detention lol like what happened to him tho? supposed owners r suspected of involuntary homicide & stuff i dont know man cant they just confess or somethin? 
Italian premier Giorgia Meloni is straight fire though 
her statement about ppl doin their job & makin easy money got me feelin all the feels tbh 
hope justice gets served soon 
. So, have you guys ever noticed how some restaurants here have these super cool hidden bars on top of buildings? I mean, it's like stepping into a scene from a spy movie 
! Anyway, this Swiss bar tragedy is just so tragic... 40 people dead? It's just heartbreaking 
. And I guess it raises questions about safety regulations and stuff. But, you know what's not adding up to me? Why some people still think candles are a good idea near flammable materials 
... just saying 
& its awesome that they're working together with Switzerland to get to the bottom of it 
cant believe how careless some ppl can be with fire safety i mean sparking candles on the ceiling? who does that?!?! 
at least they're taking action and investigating, hopefully justice is served for all those affected 
candles on the ceiling of an open-air bar? sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. justice will be served, hopefully