Overview
- Prosecutors named the current head of public security in Crans-Montana a suspect, with questioning set for February 6, and will hear his predecessor on February 9, broadening the case beyond the bar’s operators.
- Authorities acknowledge annual fire-safety checks at Le Constellation lapsed after 2019, a failure now central to assessing potential municipal liability.
- Investigators say spark-emitting bottle fountains likely ignited flammable ceiling foam, with the blaze killing 40 people and injuring 116 on New Year’s Eve.
- Key surveillance evidence is missing: many town camera recordings auto-deleted after seven days, and the bar’s own 11 cameras stopped minutes before the fire, complicating event reconstruction.
- Operators Jacques and Jessica Moretti remain under investigation on suspicion of negligent homicide, injury and arson after Jacques was released on bail, while Italy presses for joint inquiries following the deaths of six Italian youths.