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Kyoto Animation fire: At least 23 dead after suspected arson attack | |
(32 minutes later) | |
At least 23 people are dead and dozens injured after a suspected arson attack at an animation studio in Kyoto, Japan, local emergency officials have said. | |
Local media quoted police as saying a man broke into the Kyoto Animation Co studio on Thursday morning. Police say the suspect, a 41-year-old, sprayed petrol before igniting it. | |
Some people still remain unaccounted for, broadcaster NHK reported. | |
The suspect has been detained and was taken to hospital with injuries. | |
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. | NHK said the man had been heard saying "drop dead" as he set fire to the building. |
It is not clear what relationship the suspect may have had with the company. | |
Eyewitnesses described a loud explosion followed by an inferno that rapidly engulfed the building. | |
It is feared more victims could still be on the top floor, which was filled with thick smoke. | |
"Several other people appeared to have failed to escape on the second floor," a fire department spokesman told AFP. | |
Japanese officials said at least 23 people 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. | |
A fire official told reporters that at least 10 victims had been found on the stairs linking the second floor to the roof. | |
Some 36 people are in hospital, some in a critical condition, reports say. | |
About 70 people were in the building when the fire started, fire officials say. | |
Who is the suspect? | |
Latest reports say the man is not a former employee and does not have any obvious connection to the studio. | |
Some Japanese newspaper reports say the suspect ran away from the building towards a nearby station after the fire started but fell to the ground. | |
"A person with singed hair was lying down and there were bloody footprints," a 59-year-old woman living nearby told news agency Kyodo. | |
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". |
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 $50,000 (£40,000) raised in an hour. | A GoFundMe campaign titled "Help KyoAni Heal" has also been started, with more than $50,000 (£40,000) raised in an hour. |