Japan: 23 Killed, Dozens Injured In Suspected Arson Attack On Animation Studio

In what is believed to have been an arson attack, at least 23 are feared dead, and many more injured after a fire engulfed an animation studio located in Kyoto, Japan, reports BBC.

According to local officials, the studio was broken into by the suspected attacker today (Thursday, 18 July) morning, and he sprayed petrol to the building before lighting it on fire. Police have taken the accused into custody, but he himself has burn injuries.

No exact motive has yet been ascertained for the attack; the suspect was heard exclaiming, “drop dead” while carrying out the crime.

Authorities have also recovered a number of knives from the burned building.

Although Japan is known for having one of the lowest crime rates in the world, it has witnessed a number of mass-casualty attacks over the years, the most infamous of them being the Tokyo Subway sarin attack in which 13 people died and more than a thousand were injured.