KYOTO, Japan (CelebrityAccess) — At least 33 people were killed in a suspect arson attack at a noted animation studio in Kyoto, Japan.
According to CNN, the victims of the fire at the Kyoto Animation Co. building included 12 men, 20 women and another individual whose gender has not been identified.
A police spokesperson said a 41-year-old man is suspected of starting the fire, pouring what appeared to be gasoline around the studio before setting it ablaze.
A witness told police that the suspect shouted “Die!” while spreading the liquid around the studio. The man was arrested with a backpack containing several knives police said.
According to NHK, Hideaki Hatta, the president of Kyoto Animation, said the studio had previously received threatening emails. “They were addressed to our office and sales department and told us to ‘die’, ” he said.
The suspect was also seriously burned in the attack and is in currently hospitalized. Police said they do not expect to be able to question him today.
Founded in 1981, Kyoto Animation, the studio produces numerous popular animation, as well as manga comics, and books. Its content includes the series “K-On!”, the animated TV adaptation of “Haruhi Suzumiya” and “Violet Evergarden: The Movie” which was picked up by Netflix this year.
