Files partially redacted and handed over to the public prosecutor's office

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• Parts of the documents relating to the Crans-Montana fire have been blacked out with a black felt-tip pen.
• First names and surnames in particular have been made illegible in the files.
• This was confirmed by the Valais public prosecutor's office.

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Some of the documents relating to the Crans-Montana fire disaster have been redacted and handed over to the public prosecutors by the municipality. The Valais public prosecutor's office confirmed on Sunday a corresponding report in the "Sonntagzeitung" newspaper.

In particular, first names and surnames had been made illegible in the files, it said at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. The public prosecutor's office must now clarify whether these "passages blacked out in felt-tip pen" are directly related to the case or whether they are not relevant to the investigation into the tragedy on January 1.

Disaster in Crans-Montana VS

Investigators reveal cause of fire and details of casualties for the first time

The manipulation of the documents came to light during the questioning of Nicolas Féraud, the mayor of Crans-Montana, last Monday. According to a source familiar with the case, however, the redactions were not made by Nicolas Féraud himself.

Resumption of hearings on 11 May

Since last Thursday, the list of suspects has grown from nine to thirteen. They are all facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary bodily harm and involuntary arson.

The hearings will resume on May 11 with that of Patrick Clivaz, the Crans-Montana municipal councillor responsible for security. 41 people died and 115 were injured in the fire at the "Le Constellation" bar on New Year's Eve. 38 people are still in hospital.