Current Events > 30+ Dead in Suspected Arson at Kyoto Animation Studio

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/12-presumed-dead-after-suspected-arson-kyoto-animation-studio-n1031091

More than 30 people had died after a fire caused by suspected arson ripped through an animation production studio in Kyoto, Japan, early on Thursday.

At least 70 people were thought to have been inside the three-story Kyoto Animation building in Japan's ancient capital at the time the fire started, NHK reported.

A Japanese fire official said 33 people were confirmed dead and a further 36 injured, according to the Associated Press.

According to the AP, Kyoto police said the fire broke out after a man burst into the building screaming "You die!" before spreading unidentified liquid that then ignited.

Police said a 41-year-old man had been detained and was taken to hospital for treatment, according to NHK. They later said that the suspect is neither a current nor former employee of the animation studio, according to NBC News local partner NTV.

The animation studio's president Hideaki Hatta told reporters that he had received threatening emails recently, according to state broadcaster NHK. The emails addressed to the company's sales departments told them to die, Hatta said. The emails had no titles and the company consulted a lawyer each time, he added.

Kyoto Animation, better known as KyoAni, was founded in 1981 as an animation and comic book production studio, and is known for mega-hit stories featuring high school girls, including "Lucky Star," ''K-On!" and "Haruhi Suzumiya."

The death toll climbed immediately after the incident as firefighters entered the building and assessed the damage. Fire officials said 13 people were found and confirmed dead on the first and second floors of the building, the AP reported. More than 10 people were found unresponsive on the third floor and in the stairwell where they appeared to be trying to escape to the roof.

NBC News was not able to confirm these reports.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed that arson was suspected.

"The arson murder that took place in Kyoto today took away many many lives. The gruesomeness of it all Im at a loss for words," he said in a statement on Twitter. "I pray for those souls that perished. And for those who have suffered injuries, I extend my deepest sympathy and pray for the swiftest recovery."

Footage on national television showed gray smoke billowing from the charred building. Other footage showed windows blown out.

"There was an explosion, then I heard people shouting, some asking for help," a woman told TBS TV. "Black smoke was rising from windows on upper floors, then there was a man struggling to crawl out of the window."

Witnesses in the neighborhood said they heard bangs coming from the building, others said they saw people coming out blackened, bleeding, walking barefoot, Kyodo News reported.

Rescue officials set up an orange tent outside the studio building to provide first aid and sort out the injured.

A GoFundMe was established by U.S.-based firm Sentai Filmworks to support the victims of the incident, which raised over $400,000 in the first seven hours.
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They apparently did the animation for the MLB Power Pros games as well, which are some of my favorite baseball games ever. Damn shame.
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Damn. That is terrible.
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This is terrible and sad. Side note, I'm going to Kyoto in September.
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This is just a bit too much. Basically half the people in the building died because of an asshole who was probably not associated with most of the people there. It just hurts to hear about good people doing good work just dying without a cause
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