Police Identify 16 More Victims Of Swiss Bar Fire

The bodies of 16 more victims of a bar fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have been identified by police.

The youngest person was a Swiss girl aged 14, with nine aged under 18. The group includes people of Swiss, Italian, Romanian, Turkish and French nationalities, police said.

This brings the number of people who have been identified as killed in the fire to 24. Among them is 16-year-old Swiss national Arthur Brodard, his mother has said.

A criminal investigation into the people who ran Le Constellation bar is under way, while victim’s families are enduring an agonising wait for information about loved ones who are still considered missing.

Police said no further details will be released about the victims they had identified out of respect for their relatives.

However, Arthur Brodard’s mother took to Facebook on Saturday night to announce that he “has left to party in paradise”.
“We can start our mourning, knowing that he is in peace and in the light,” she said as she appeared visibly upset in a video message.

While Arthur was still presumed missing and information on his whereabouts was scarce, Ms Brodard-Sitre told local newspaper Le Temps that she had been “living a nightmare”.

BBC