Crans-Montana fire investigation adds former security official

An investigation into the fatal New Year's Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has expanded to include a former municipal official. Thibault Beytrison, who served as a communal councillor in charge of security from 2017 to 2020, is scheduled to be interviewed on September 29.

The tragedy, which resulted in 41 deaths and 115 injuries, has seen the number of individuals under criminal investigation rise to 16. This group includes seven current and former elected officials, as well as seven municipal employees or former employees. Investigators are looking into reports that fire and safety inspections had been absent at the bar since 2019.

French co-owners of the bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are also central to the probe and are expected to undergo confrontation hearings this autumn. Preliminary findings suggest the fire was ignited by sparks from fountain candles, which ignited soundproofing foam on the basement ceiling. The accused face charges of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson. The victims were primarily young adults, many of whom were foreign nationals from Italy and France.