In an interview with RTS television, Bonvin Clivaz expressed sympathy to the victims' families and asked for forgiveness. Her statement came after a press conference by Mayor Nicolas Feraud, who confirmed that no fire safety inspections had been carried out at the bar for four years..
The mayor's lack of apology caused a wave of criticism.
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The deputy mayor emphasized that there is no excuse for the lack of apology from the authorities. She emphasized that in crisis situations it is easy to be clumsy, but currently the most important thing is to show support to the families and victims of the tragedy. It also admitted that there had been negligence in inspections and that the authorities were taking responsibility for it.
Investigation and new findings
According to Nicole Bonvin Clivaz, the investigation into the fire may take a long time because it is necessary to analyze all documentation regarding the premises. The Italian agency Ansa, citing Swiss television, reported that on Friday, the bar's co-owner, Frenchman Jacques Moretti, was arrested.
During interrogation, he admitted that the emergency exit was blocked and that he had installed soundproof foam on the ceiling, which ignited by fireworks attached to champagne bottles.
Read also: After the tragedy in Switzerland. How to avoid this in Poland?
Moretti also allegedly said that after the fire broke out, when he managed to open the emergency door from the outside, he found the bodies of people who tried to get out but were unable to leave the building.
Owners' liability and possible charges
Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica were charged with unintentionally causing death and bodily injury, as well as with unintentionally starting a fire. The media report that in the coming days they may be charged with murder with intent. This means that the perpetrator anticipates the possibility of a person's death as a result of his or her actions and agrees to such an outcome, even though it is not his or her direct goal.
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The 40 people who died in the fire were mostly young people from different countries. Two Polish women were also injured as a result of the incident. The investigation into the causes and circumstances of the tragedy is ongoing, and the authorities announce full cooperation with the families of the injured.
