Swiss Bar Owner Detained After New Year’s Eve Fire Kills 40 in

A New Year’s Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 114. One bar owner, Jacques M., has been placed in pretrial detention, while his wife remains under investigation. Authorities say the fire may have been caused by sparklers, and the bar had not been inspected for fire safety in five years.

One of the owners of a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has been placed in pretrial detention following a deadly fire that broke out during a New Year’s Eve celebration, investigators confirmed on Friday.
The blaze occurred at the Le Constellation bar on New Year’s Eve and quickly turned the crowded venue into a fatal trap. By the time the fire was brought under control, 40 people had lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest incidents in Switzerland in recent decades.
Investigative sources said French national Jacques M. was taken into custody in the canton of Valais after undergoing more than six hours of questioning by prosecutors in Sion, the cantonal capital. Jacques M. and his wife, Jessica M., who jointly operated the establishment, are both under criminal investigation on suspicion of negligent homicide and causing bodily harm. In a statement released on Friday, the Valais prosecutor’s office said the decision to remand Jacques M. in custody was based on an assessment of his statements, his professional background, and his personal circumstances in Switzerland and abroad. Authorities concluded that there was a concrete risk he could attempt to flee.
Prosecutors said Jessica M. was not deemed to pose a flight risk and would therefore not be placed in pretrial detention. She remains under investigation and is expected to continue cooperating with authorities as the case progresses.
The couple arrived at the Valais public prosecutor’s office on Friday morning and passed by journalists waiting outside with their heads lowered. This marked their first formal questioning since criminal proceedings were officially opened on January 3. Earlier in the week, the couple released a statement expressing their full cooperation with investigators and acknowledging the gravity of the tragedy.
Romain Jordan, a lawyer representing the families of the victims, said before the questioning that relatives were demanding clear and comprehensive answers about how such a catastrophic incident could have occurred. He pointed to Switzerland’s extensive legal, regulatory, and oversight systems and said it was deeply troubling that a tragedy of this scale could happen despite those safeguards. According to him, it is vital for the affected families that responsibility be fully established at every level, “from A to Z.”
Officials have indicated that the fire was likely caused by bottles fitted with sparklers that were held too close to the ceiling, allowing flames to spread rapidly across the interior of the bar. Swiss authorities have also acknowledged serious lapses in oversight, admitting that the establishment had not undergone any fire or safety inspections in the past five years.
As the questioning of the bar owners took place, Switzerland paused to remember the victims. A nationwide minute of silence was observed at 2 p.m. (1300 UTC/GMT) on Friday. Church bells rang across the country for five minutes, followed by a large memorial ceremony to honor those who died.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the fire as “one of the worst tragedies our country has experienced.” He said that public hope now rests on the justice system’s ability to uncover failures and impose consequences swiftly and without leniency, stressing that accountability is both a moral obligation and a fundamental duty of the state.
Around 1,000 people attended the memorial ceremony, including many emergency responders who were involved in rescue efforts on the night of the fire. Participants held white roses as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity with the victims and their families.
At the same time, approximately 1,400 people gathered at the nearby Crans-Montana congress center, where the ceremony was broadcast on a giant screen to allow more members of the public to take part in the commemoration.
Half of those who died in the fire were minors. The youngest victim was just 14 years old, while the oldest was 39. Of the 114 people who were injured, 83 were still receiving hospital treatment on Friday. Many sustained severe burns and were transferred to specialist burn units, including several patients who were taken to hospitals in Germany for advanced care.
The victims came from 19 different countries, underscoring the international impact of the tragedy. Among the dead were nine French nationals and six Italians. In a show of solidarity, several high-profile figures attended the memorial service held in Martigny, about 50 kilometers southwest of Crans-Montana, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and Luxembourg’s former Grand Duke Henri.