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One dead in suspected arson attack on Japan animation studio
TOKYO, July 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A suspected arson attack on an animation
studio in Japan on Thursday left one person dead and dozens injured, several
of them seriously, the emergency services said.
The blaze in the city of Kyoto appeared to have been started deliberately,
police said, but there was no immediate information on a possible motive.
“At least one unidentified person was confirmed dead,” a fire department
spokesman told AFP, adding that 37 others were hurt including 10 in serious
condition.
The fire department said it began receiving calls around 10:35 am (0135
GMT) about the fire at the studio belonging to Kyoto Animation. The blaze was
still burning two hours later.
“Callers reported having heard a loud explosion from the first floor of
Kyoto Animation and seeing smoke,” a fire department spokesman said.
He said the fire department had dispatched 35 fire engines and other fire-
fighting vehicles to the site.
Police said they were treating the fire as a suspected arson.
“A man threw a liquid and set fire to it,” a Kyoto prefectural police
spokesman told AFP.
Local media said a man had been detained in connection with the blaze, but
there were no immediate details on the suspect.
Public broadcaster NHK said the suspect had been taken to hospital after
suffering injuries in the fire.
There was no immediate statement from the company, which produced several
well-known television anime series, including “The Melancholy of Haruhi
Suzumiya” and “K-ON!”
“We are in the process of learning what happened,” said a woman who
answered the phone at the firm’s headquarters in Uji City in the Kyoto
region.
“We cannot tell you anything more,” she added.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1021 hrs