Swiss authorities have taken a significant step in their investigation into the fatal Alpine bar fire that occurred during New Year's Eve celebrations last month. Prosecutors have requested that one of the managers, Jacques Moretti, be placed in pre-trial detention, citing a risk of flight and the need to ensure public safety.
The request comes as authorities continue to probe the owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, on suspicion of involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire. The investigation has also revealed that fire safety inspections hadn't been carried out since 2019, raising questions about how such a tragedy could have occurred in a bar with known safety issues.
The fire, which broke out less than two hours after midnight on January 1, claimed the lives of 40 people and injured another 116. Many victims were in their teens to mid-20s, and authorities are still working to identify some of those who died due to the severity of burns.
As the investigation unfolds, officials have acknowledged that the tragedy was preventable if safety measures had been implemented earlier. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has condemned the disaster, stating that "those responsible must be identified and prosecuted." The Rome Prosecutor's Office has launched a separate probe into the incident, while the Paris prosecutor's office is also assisting the Swiss investigation.
The request for pre-trial detention of Jacques Moretti comes as authorities seek to hold those accountable for the tragic event. While his wife, Jessica, will remain under judicial supervision, her husband's detention raises concerns about the potential risks of flight and the need for further security measures.
In a national day of mourning ceremony held in Crans-Montana, Switzerland paid tribute to the victims and their families. A minute's silence was observed across the country at 2 p.m., while church bells rang out for five minutes in honor of the deceased. The memorial service was attended by many of those who survived the tragedy, including some who were injured.
The investigation into the fire is ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the role of soundproofing material on the ceiling and whether candles were permitted for use in the bar.
The request comes as authorities continue to probe the owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, on suspicion of involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire. The investigation has also revealed that fire safety inspections hadn't been carried out since 2019, raising questions about how such a tragedy could have occurred in a bar with known safety issues.
The fire, which broke out less than two hours after midnight on January 1, claimed the lives of 40 people and injured another 116. Many victims were in their teens to mid-20s, and authorities are still working to identify some of those who died due to the severity of burns.
As the investigation unfolds, officials have acknowledged that the tragedy was preventable if safety measures had been implemented earlier. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has condemned the disaster, stating that "those responsible must be identified and prosecuted." The Rome Prosecutor's Office has launched a separate probe into the incident, while the Paris prosecutor's office is also assisting the Swiss investigation.
The request for pre-trial detention of Jacques Moretti comes as authorities seek to hold those accountable for the tragic event. While his wife, Jessica, will remain under judicial supervision, her husband's detention raises concerns about the potential risks of flight and the need for further security measures.
In a national day of mourning ceremony held in Crans-Montana, Switzerland paid tribute to the victims and their families. A minute's silence was observed across the country at 2 p.m., while church bells rang out for five minutes in honor of the deceased. The memorial service was attended by many of those who survived the tragedy, including some who were injured.
The investigation into the fire is ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the role of soundproofing material on the ceiling and whether candles were permitted for use in the bar.
This whole thing is just so sad... The fact that there was no safety inspection done since 2019 is just insane 
I mean, you've got people running a bar with known issues and then something like this happens? It's just not right.
And if Jacques Moretti does get pre-trial detention, that's a big step in the right direction. I think it's fair to say that his wife Jessica was probably pretty distraught when she found out she'd be under supervision but maybe her husband taking some time behind bars will help bring some closure for all of us.
And I love how Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is speaking out about it, calling those responsible to be held accountable. It's not gonna bring back the victims, but at least we know that someone is taking this seriously.
Let's just hope they get some justice soon.
! 40 people dead and 116 hurt at a bar party? It's just too much 
. And to think they didn't even do regular fire safety checks since 2019?! 
How could that happen in a country like Switzerland where everything is so safe and organized? I'm seriously worried about the investigation, though. If the authorities can prove that Jacques Moretti was involved, he should definitely be held accountable 
.
. My heart goes out to all the families who lost loved ones 
. This is just devastating 
.
it's just heartbreaking. and now they're trying to hold one of the managers accountable, which is a good move i guess 
but what really gets me is that fire safety inspections hadn't been done since 2019 
anywayz, my thoughts r with the victims & their families 
it's been months since that horrific accident happened but still no concrete answers 
️ and btw, how could a bar with known safety issues just leave their fire safety inspections behind? 
that's what's really puzzling 
The fact that candles were even allowed in the bar... I don't know, man. It feels like so many things could've gone right if safety measures had been taken seriously earlier on. 
. And what about his wife Jessica? She was there too, you know 
. I'm sure Jacques Moretti will cooperate fully with the investigation and do everything he can to help figure out what happened 
. Let's not be too quick to jump to conclusions, okay? 
just saw that the Swiss investigators are asking for Jacques Moretti's pre-trial detention 
#JusticeForTheVictims #FireSafetyMatters #Accountability
It's great to see the investigation unfolding and officials taking responsibility, but it's also heartbreaking to think about how this could've been avoided 
the fact that fire safety inspections hadn't been done in years is just staggering. can you imagine having a bar with known safety issues and still allowing it to operate? 
. But at the same time, I'm really worried about Jacques Moretti being let out on bail - what if he does decide to leave Switzerland? 
The fire safety inspections hadn't been done since 2019... it's just so frustrating that something like this could happen when there were known issues with the bar 
. Anyways, my condolences go out to all the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives 
40 lives lost over a party 
It's like they knew there was an issue with fire safety all those years ago, but nobody bothered to do anything about it. It's just so... preventable 
. And now they want to lock up one of the managers just because he might try to leave? That doesn't seem fair to me... 
What's next? Detaining everyone in Crans-Montana for questioning? 