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| Kyoto Animation fire: Arson attack at Japan anime studio kills 33 | Kyoto Animation fire: Arson attack at Japan anime studio kills 33 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| At least 33 people are dead and dozens injured after a man set fire to an animation studio in the Japanese city of Kyoto, officials say. | At least 33 people are dead and dozens injured after a man set fire to an animation studio in the Japanese city of Kyoto, officials say. |
| Police said the 41-year-old suspect broke into the Kyoto Animation studio on Thursday morning and sprayed petrol before igniting it. | Police said the 41-year-old suspect broke into the Kyoto Animation studio on Thursday morning and sprayed petrol before igniting it. |
| The suspect has been detained and was taken to hospital with injuries. | The suspect has been detained and was taken to hospital with injuries. |
| Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the incident was "too appalling for words" and offered condolences. | Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the incident was "too appalling for words" and offered condolences. |
| Kyoto Animation, known as KyoAni, produces films and graphic novels and is well regarded by fans for the quality of its productions. | Kyoto Animation, known as KyoAni, produces films and graphic novels and is well regarded by fans for the quality of its productions. |
| How did the incident unfold? | How did the incident unfold? |
| The fire broke out at the three-storey building at around 10:30 local time (01:35 GMT) on Thursday. Rescue operations are still ongoing. | The fire broke out at the three-storey building at around 10:30 local time (01:35 GMT) on Thursday. Rescue operations are still ongoing. |
| Police also found knives at the scene, say local media. NHK said the man had been heard saying "drop dead" as he set fire to the building. | Police also found knives at the scene, say local media. NHK said the man had been heard saying "drop dead" as he set fire to the building. |
| The suspect's relationship with the company is unclear. | The suspect's relationship with the company is unclear. |
| Eyewitnesses described a loud explosion followed by an inferno that rapidly engulfed the building. | Eyewitnesses described a loud explosion followed by an inferno that rapidly engulfed the building. |
| "I saw some people with burns, covered with something. They were rushed to the ambulance," one neighbour said. | "I saw some people with burns, covered with something. They were rushed to the ambulance," one neighbour said. |
| Firefighters found 10 of the victims on the stairs linking the second floor to the roof and it is feared more people could still be on the top floor. | Firefighters found 10 of the victims on the stairs linking the second floor to the roof and it is feared more people could still be on the top floor. |
| Japanese officials said the victims were dead or "in cardio-pulmonary arrest" - a formulation routinely used in Japan for victims who have died but whose deaths have not yet been officially confirmed. | Japanese officials said the victims were dead or "in cardio-pulmonary arrest" - a formulation routinely used in Japan for victims who have died but whose deaths have not yet been officially confirmed. |
| Some 36 people are in hospital, some in a critical condition, reports say. About 70 people were in the building when the fire started. | Some 36 people are in hospital, some in a critical condition, reports say. About 70 people were in the building when the fire started. |
| Who is the suspect? | Who is the suspect? |
| Latest reports say the man is not a former employee - but eyewitnesses say he appeared to be angry with the animation studio. | Latest reports say the man is not a former employee - but eyewitnesses say he appeared to be angry with the animation studio. |
| They said he ran away from the building towards a nearby train station after the fire started but fell to the ground. Some reports said he was pursued by employees of Kyoto Animation. | They said he ran away from the building towards a nearby train station after the fire started but fell to the ground. Some reports said he was pursued by employees of Kyoto Animation. |
| "A person with singed hair was lying down and there were bloody footprints," a 59-year-old woman living nearby told news agency Kyodo. | "A person with singed hair was lying down and there were bloody footprints," a 59-year-old woman living nearby told news agency Kyodo. |
| "He seemed to be in pain, irritated and suffering, but also angry as if he was resentful. I heard him saying something like 'you copied it'," a neighbour said. | "He seemed to be in pain, irritated and suffering, but also angry as if he was resentful. I heard him saying something like 'you copied it'," a neighbour said. |
| The Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted a 61-year-old neighbour as saying she clearly heard the man shout: "You ripped me off." | The Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted a 61-year-old neighbour as saying she clearly heard the man shout: "You ripped me off." |
| The suspect was injured and was being treated in hospital, so police could not immediately question him, NHK said. | The suspect was injured and was being treated in hospital, so police could not immediately question him, NHK said. |
| Japanese media reports said a man in his 40s had earlier bought 40 litres (nine gallons) of petrol at a nearby petrol station. Two containers used for the fuel were later found at the scene of the fire, Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. | Japanese media reports said a man in his 40s had earlier bought 40 litres (nine gallons) of petrol at a nearby petrol station. Two containers used for the fuel were later found at the scene of the fire, Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. |
| Meanwhile Kyoto Animation Director Hideaki Hatta told the broadcaster that the company had recently received threatening emails. | Meanwhile Kyoto Animation Director Hideaki Hatta told the broadcaster that the company had recently received threatening emails. |
| "They were addressed to our office and sales department and told us to die," he said. | "They were addressed to our office and sales department and told us to die," he said. |
| What do we know about the studio? | What do we know about the studio? |
| Kyoto Animation, known as KyoAni, was founded in 1981 and has produced popular animation shows including "K-On" and "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". | Kyoto Animation, known as KyoAni, was founded in 1981 and has produced popular animation shows including "K-On" and "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". |
| The studio also released a standalone feature anime A Silent Voice in 2016. | The studio also released a standalone feature anime A Silent Voice in 2016. |
| One of KyoAni's series, Violet Evergarden, was picked up by Netflix for a global market. | |
| It also publishes many popular graphic novels mainly about teenage school life. | It also publishes many popular graphic novels mainly about teenage school life. |
| The studio is also known for paying its animators a regular salary, breaking with the industry's standard of paying per frame which is seen as putting extreme pressure on staff. | The studio is also known for paying its animators a regular salary, breaking with the industry's standard of paying per frame which is seen as putting extreme pressure on staff. |
| How have fans reacted? | How have fans reacted? |
| Japanese anime has a huge following not just in Japan but around the world. | Japanese anime has a huge following not just in Japan but around the world. |
| On social media, many fans have been expressing their shock and posting pictures of their favourite KyoAni shows. | On social media, many fans have been expressing their shock and posting pictures of their favourite KyoAni shows. |
| A GoFundMe campaign titled "Help KyoAni Heal" has also been started, with more than $300,000 (£240,000) raised in six hours. | A GoFundMe campaign titled "Help KyoAni Heal" has also been started, with more than $300,000 (£240,000) raised in six hours. |
| Voiceover artist SungWon Cho - who works on anime films - was among those to react. | Voiceover artist SungWon Cho - who works on anime films - was among those to react. |
| Sentai Filmworks, a US licensing firm specialising in Japanese anime, also posted, as did Honey's Anime, an anime fan site. | Sentai Filmworks, a US licensing firm specialising in Japanese anime, also posted, as did Honey's Anime, an anime fan site. |
| Fans have also been sharing images of Kyoto Animation's work. | Fans have also been sharing images of Kyoto Animation's work. |